What's the longest you can keep raw chicken in the fridge...

I bought chicken capons last Tue from the grocery and only got around to actually make them very late that Thursday night (close to fri morn)...I am now second guessing myself and I'm nervous I kept them in the fridge too long before I cooked them. Is this something I should be concerned about? I'm starting to get nervous to serve it on shavous...when I was washing them off I do remember them having a chickeny smell..but once they were cooked they smelled delicious Smile

but don't know if that means anything..

WWYD?????

Annon because I told my cousins (who are on imamother) that I will be asking this question on here....

Diamond Member Joined: Aug 07 2006 Posts: 2556

Some good sources:

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/index.asp

http://www.fightbac.org/safe-food-handling

Most spoiled foods look and taste fine.

Gold Member Joined: Jun 01 2009 Posts: 2307

AFAIK no longer than 3 days. I actually go by the 3 day rule for raw or cooked chicken. So say I cooked chicken on the third day I wouldn't keep it for more than another 3 days. I would use the capons with no problem at all. I'm sure they're delicious. Enjoy them!

ETA: After looking at the guidelines in cm's post I see it says 2 days. IIRC I actually heard about the 3 days from the butcher. I always wonder though, chicken purchased is not always fresh from that day so although it's within the use by timeline it may have been in the butchers fridge for a day already. In general if I purchase chicken on a day when I know it cannot have been fresh from that day then I cook it immediately.

Hi OP here..I want to clarify I made them and froze them RIGHT away I plan to defrost them before the meal I mad them for... so as far as that's concerned I don't think its an issue my concern was really the time that elapsed from when I purchased the chicken until I actually made them....(basically 3 days..)

TIA!!

Platinum Member Joined: Feb 20 2009 Posts: 7611

I think its fine if the chicken was packed that day in the store. If it was in the fridge a day or two in the store before you bought it... I wouldn't use it.