How long does raw chicken last?

Soldato
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I had some remaining uncooked chicken thighs and drumsticks in the fridge which I've now thrown. Sell by date was 1st July and they smelt fairly rank today when sniffing them up close. It was only one thigh and one drumstick, I cooked the other two pieces on the day I bought them. Can you go past the sell by date by a day or two? I suppose it sounds like a pretty obvious answer but is smell always an indicator that you simply mustn't eat something? Perhaps once they're grilled they might still be ok? Uncooked chicken always smells a bit rank to me a day after the package has been opened anyway.
 
Usually things like that will have a "Use By" date on them as well to give you an idea
of when they will be good to.

I always follow my nose though if im honest with you as if it starts to smell rank then I
wont use it because its the bacteria that makes it smell like that and even though when
you cook the chicken it will kill all the bacteria it can still cause you to get food poisoning
if its not quiet cooked properly.

If you had of cooked the chicken all at the same time though then saved the other 2
pieces it would have lasted a lot longer than it would have done being raw, just so that you
know for future. Just cook the rest let it cool down so its cold, put it on a plate wrap in
cling film and chuck it in the fridge it will last a while like that m8.
 
I always use my nose. I find over here the meat just doesn't last as long as back in England, (not sure if that's a good thing or not?!) so I sniff all times. Any funky smell, it goes. I won't risk it. Same with fish.
 
I always follow my nose though if im honest with you as if it starts to smell rank then I
wont use it because its the bacteria that makes it smell like that and even though when
you cook the chicken it will kill all the bacteria it can still cause you to get food poisoning
if its not quiet cooked properly..

The bacteria that cause the main forms of food poisoning don't actually have a smell. What you are selling in those circumstances is spoilage bacteria.
 
Wouldn't ever risk it with meat, the chicken will become slimey and should smell, but don't always take smell as an indication. Never risk it. Hotbed of bacteria, they love it. Salmonella, nom nom.
 
Go by use by date and smell.

If it's 1 day after the use by and it still smells normal then I'll eat it. 2 days and I'll just go and buy more.

That said I've also bought chicken from a butchers and that started smelling a day or two before it should have!! That went straight in the bin.
 
The bacteria that cause the main forms of food poisoning don't actually have a smell. What you are selling in those circumstances is spoilage bacteria.

unless you are old, sick or feeding someone else i'd say its a pretty good rule of thumb....
 
The bacteria that cause the main forms of food poisoning don't actually have a smell. What you are selling in those circumstances is spoilage bacteria.
No idea who you are or where you came from, but do stick around, won't you?

This subforum will benefit hugely from knowledgeable types like yourself.
 
chicken is a hard one.

i usually dont risk it if i have to question it.

sometime i find at work in the kitchen when i open bags of 4 pack chicken legs you get a horrible smell from the plastic that its been in but the chciekn itself is as fresh as can be.
 
Raw chicken is by far one of the easiest meats to tell if it's gone off or not. Very distinct smell and the flesh gets a sort of mottled, sweaty look to it. My senses haven't failed me yet. (Cue worst case of food poisoning ever for me now I've said that)
 
Thanks guys, I think I did the right thing then binning that chicken.

If you had of cooked the chicken all at the same time though then saved the other 2
pieces it would have lasted a lot longer than it would have done being raw, just so that you
know for future. Just cook the rest let it cool down so its cold, put it on a plate wrap in
cling film and chuck it in the fridge it will last a while like that m8.

That's a very good idea. I'll do that. I always end up throwing some so this might help reduce wastage. I buy packs of Tesco everyday value chicken thighs & drumsticks only £1.49 for about 3 thighs and 2 drumsticks. Perhaps the more expensive chicken would last longer?
 
Supermarket value chicken tends to be the same as the regular supermarket chicken, just odd sizes. You're better off sticking with it and freezing or cooking the bits you don't want straight away. You can even cook chicken, wait for it to reach room temp and freeze it again. Done this many times with leftover Christmas turkey.
 
Yes, but just the once really, and will dry out considerably. I used to buy pre-cooked chicken thighs and drumsticks and heat them this way straight from the fridge to go with salad. Make sure it's piping hot though.
 
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