Getting out of the home to an emergency just before you are about to cook your meal is not an uncommon situation. For example, you may have to re-fridge the chicken you were about to cook. And once you return home, you could wonder whether it is safe to eat the thawed chicken or not.
It is crucial to be sure about what we put in our stomachs. Eating something raw and spoiled can give you food poisoning. So, how long can thawed chicken stay in the fridge before it is unsafe to eat again?
This article will focus on providing you with the correct answer to the question. In addition, we will investigate ways you can determine whether a thawed chicken has gone bad or not.
 What is Thawed Chicken and How to Do It?
Eating anything right out of the fridge is not a wise choice. Of course, it is different in the case of ice cream or cold beverages. When it comes to poultry meats or fish items, you should always consider thawing them before cooking.
What does it mean to thaw chicken? Thawing is the process of defrosting the piece of meat to loosen every part of the chicken body. This means to warm the chicken.
Thawing is an essential part of cooking a frozen chicken. This can kill all the germs and bacteria attached to the raw meat alive in a low-temperature environment.
There are three ways of thawing. These are:
In the refrigerator
The easiest way to thaw a piece of any meat is by putting it in the refrigerator. Get the chicken out of the freezer and place it inside the refrigerator, where the temperature is much higher. Keep it inside for a few hours, and it will automatically thaw without any problem.
However, there is a massive downfall of thawing the chicken this way. It can take several hours for the chicken to defrost in the refrigerator. Even if you have cut the chicken into small pieces, it can sometimes take almost a full day to thaw. As a result, it would be pretty impossible to cook the chicken right away.
Using the microwave
The most common way of thawing the chicken is by using the microwave to defrost it. In almost every microwave, there is a defrost option. Just throw the chicken inside a microwave right out of the freezer and use the defrosting option to thaw the chicken.
If the oven does not have any defrosting option, you can always warm it up, usually, thaw the chicken. It is a much faster way, which makes the process simpler and more popular.
The only issue with this process is that you must cook the chicken right away. If you leave the chicken openly, bacteria may start growing. Moreover, some parts of the chicken may end up overheating than other parts. As a result, the overcooked part may dry up sooner than the other parts while cooking.
Using cold water
This is the last method to thaw the chicken. It is a relatively new process and faster than the very first process of thawing a chicken.
Firstly, get the chicken out of the freezer and place it inside a sealed bag. Make sure there is no air inside after you have sealed the bag. Then, take a big bowl filled with cold water. It is best if you can submerge the whole bag of chicken inside the water.
Leave the chicken for an hour or more. This will thaw the chicken entirely. While there is no severe downfall, you should change the water every 30 minutes.
The Importance of Thawing the Chicken
Thawing the chicken can take a lot of time out of your cooking schedule. Not to mention, it is a technical process. So, why should you thaw the chicken in the first place?
Thawing the chicken is not a must but a highly beneficial task. Firstly, you can cook the chicken quickly and better if you thaw the chicken beforehand. It also makes the cooking of every part of the chicken even and tender.
Another issue with an unthawed chicken is the taste of the chicken. A frozen chicken has many bacteria living in them. While cooking can kill the bacteria, it can also suck away all the vital nutrients and taste out of the chicken.
How Long Can Thawed Chicken Stay in the Fridge
Chicken is a kind of meat that must be handled and cooked with extreme care and caution. This is because chicken can be more delicate than other meats. In addition, a spoiled chicken can cause you more harm than any other meat on your plate.
Keeping chicken in the freezer is an excellent way to store it. However, like any other food item, there is a limit. You cannot just hold a chicken in the freezer and expect to eat it after weeks or months.
Nevertheless, thawed chicken can be stored in the fridge for some time. You can eat the frozen-thawed chicken after a maximum of two days of keeping it in the refrigerator. After two days, it is recommended not to eat that chicken. However, you can stretch as far as 5 to 6 days. Anything more than that, the chicken is spoiled, and you should not eat the thawed chicken.
3 Ways to Determine If the Chicken is Safe to Eat
A thawed chicken can be left in the fridge for a maximum of 2 days. In case you keep it for more than that, you can still eat it. First, however, you must be sure whether the chicken is safe to eat or not. Here are three ways to determine that the chicken has not gone rotten.
Checking the color of the chicken
The first thing you should check is the overall outlook of the chicken. This mainly involves checking the color. It will say if the chicken has gone rotten or it is safe to eat.
The color of a raw chicken would be light pink or the color of animal flesh. In addition, the color of the skin can become yellowish. If these are the colors you see over your chicken, be sure that it is not safe to eat at all.
Furthermore, it would be best if you did not consider eating a chicken that seems to be gray or green. Even if you see gray or green spots appearing over the chicken’s body, do not eat it.
A safe-to-eat chicken should portray the color of a bird’s meat. In addition, it will look fresh and have the pure smell of raw chicken.
Checking the texture of the chicken
The next factor to consider is the texture of the chicken. A rotten chicken will start to look slimmer than before. This means that the chicken is beginning to dry out naturally, and it is not safe to eat anymore.
A slimmer chicken also means that the chicken has started storing bacteria over it. Therefore, even if it looks ok color-wise, you should not consider eating it anymore.
Check the chicken’s odor
The final thing you should check is how the chicken smells. The aroma of a raw chicken will not be strong ideally. As a result, a chicken that is safe to eat should have a raw flesh smell.
The problem arises when the chicken starts spreading a solid odor. An unusual and strong smell for a raw chicken means that it is unsafe to eat now.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is safe to say that we must be careful about what we put in our stomachs, even at home. Eating a rotten chicken can give birth to several health problems that can be hard to get rid of. If you are wondering how long can thawed chicken stay in the fridge, the answer is only two days. Do not consider eating the frozen-thawed chicken after a maximum of 5 days. Always remember to check the 3 mentioned ways to determine whether it is safe to eat the chicken or not.
FAQ
How can I tell if my thawed chicken is bad?
A safe-to-eat chicken should have that moist and tender texture along with the smell of rawness. It is time to throw out the chicken if it has started getting slimmer and smelling strong.
How long can I store a thawed chicken in the fridge?
Ideally, you should not store a thawed chicken for more than two days in the freezer. However, you can still keep the chicken for up to 5 days if you ensure checking whether the chicken is safe to eat or not.
What happens if I eat spoiled chicken?
The most common thing that can happen when you eat spoiled chicken is food poisoning. This is because chicken contains bacteria like Campylobacter, Salmonella, and many more. Therefore, you are at a high risk of food poisoning if you eat rotten chicken.
Can I leave the thawed chicken in the refrigerator for three days?
Yes, you can leave the thawed chicken in the refrigerator for as long as three days before you cook. However, make sure it has not gone spoiled before cooking.
Can I refreeze the chicken after defrosting?
It is recommended to cook a defrosted chicken right after it has been thawed. Never refreeze a defrosted chicken as it can be a safe environment for bacteria growth.
