How long can you keep raw chicken in the fridge or freezer?
worked example · Europe · Deep litter · Ross 308 · 1 bird
Raw chicken keeps for about one to two days in a refrigerator at 4°C or below, according to USDA FSIS refrigeration and food storage guidance. If you will not cook it within that window, freeze it promptly rather than waiting until it is close to spoiling. Follow an earlier use-by date or stricter package instructions.
In a freezer maintained at −18°C, raw chicken keeps for months. USDA FSIS guidance distinguishes safety from quality: continuously frozen chicken remains safe, but texture and flavour deteriorate over time. Package it tightly, label it with the freezing date and freeze in portions you will actually use.
For the home cook in the Europe/UK example, an ambient kitchen temperature of 17°C is not cold storage. Put the chicken straight into the fridge or freezer after shopping, and keep refrigerated raw poultry in a sealed container on the lowest shelf so its juices cannot drip onto other food.
Thaw chicken in the refrigerator, in cold running water or in a microwave, never on the counter. Under USDA FSIS guidance, chicken thawed in water or a microwave should be cooked immediately. Do not rely on smell or appearance to establish safety if storage time or temperature is uncertain.