Read below to find out how long does every type of meat last in the fridge!
Proper food storage helps you enjoy your favorite dishes for a longer period of time. But of course, we cannot help to wonder how long one should keep in the fridge certain foods before they get spoiled or are contaminated with bacteria, thus threatening your health.
Chicken
If you are a fan of eating meat, chicken is probably the most frequently used source of lean proteins you enjoy. But have you ever wondered how long can you store cooked chicken in the fridge, before it becomes bad for your health?
We can’t deny that chicken tastes better when it’s freshly prepared, either by frying, grilling or baking it in the oven. But sometimes, cooking in advance and storing food comes in handy, especially on busy days.
Chicken is no exception to this rule. So keep in mind the following advice:
- Raw poultry lasts 1-2 days in the fridge, at 4°C / 40°F, and up to 1 year in the freezer, at -18°C / 0°F or colder.
- Refrigerate chicken within 2 hours of cooking, in a shallow airtight container or wrap it tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Stored like this, it will last up to 3 or 4 days in the fridge.
- If you are not sure you’re going to eat the chicken in 3 or 4 days, it is best to freeze it. Put it in covered airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, or wrap it tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Properly stored in the freezer, the chicken will preserve its quality up to 4 months, but it is safe to be consumed even after 6 months. However, make sure that you do not exceed the 6 months period.
- Cooked chicken constantly kept at -18°C / 0°F will stay safe almost indefinitely.
- What if cooked chicken has been frozen and thawed? It is still safe to be eaten? The answer depends on how it was thawed. If the cooked chicken has been thawed at the room temperature, in the microwave or in water, you should consume it immediately. If you thawed it in the fridge, then you can store it for an additional 3 or 4 days before cooking.
- If the cooked chicken was left at the room temperature for more than 2 hours, you should throw it away. Bacteria can grow faster at room temperatures and especially between 4°C / 40°F and 60°C / 140°F.
How can you tell if the cooked chicken is bad to eat? The sour smell and the slimy texture are the warning signs, so don’t bother tasting it. Just throw it right away.
Fish and seafood
Fish and seafood stay safe in the fridge for up to 2 days after you bought them. Keep in mind that seafood spoils faster than chicken or pork, that’s why you have to keep a close eye on it when kept in the refrigerator. Stored in an airtight container, cooked fish can last up to 3 or 4 days in the fridge.
Trust your nose before eating fish that stayed a few days in the fridge. If it smells bad, throw it away instantly.
So, the bottom line is, you need to enjoy fish and seafood as fresh as possible.
Pork and red meat
Freshly bought pork and red meat can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you cooked it, the meat will last 3 to 4 days in the fridge and 2 to 6 months in the freezer.
Beef and veal
Ground meats such as beef and veal can be stored freshly in the fridge for 1 or 2 days maximum. If you decide to freeze the ground meat, you can keep it in the freezer between 3 to 4 months.
Hot dogs
If they are unopened, they can last up to 2 weeks in the fridge. After opening, make sure to eat them in 3 or 5 days. If you want to freeze them, be sure to consume the hot dogs after 1 or 2 months.
Sausages and bacon
Eat raw sausages within 2 days of keeping them in the fridge. You can enjoy bacon kept in the fridge within a week. Both sausages and bacon can be kept in the freezer for 1 month.
We hope this info comes in handy and you will be able to enjoy your favorite meats without any fear that they will threaten your health. Store them properly and you won’t have anything to worry about!
