How Long Does Chicken Last in the Fridge?

In a store, there are fresh, raw chicken drumsticks packaged against a refrigerator filled with meat Most people love chicken. As a matter of fact, Americans eat millions of pounds of chicken per year and much of that is bought fresh and cooked at home. Baked chicken. Fried chicken. Barbecue chicken. Chicken fried rice. You name the dish, most of the time, it can be prepared with chicken. But this beloved and delicious source of protein can also bring forth sickness as well, if not stored properly. Chickens have a high risk of bacterial contamination. Storing chicken in your fridge is convenient, but many people keep in the fridge too long or at the wrong temperature. This begs the question, how long can chicken safely stay in the refrigerator? How long does raw chicken last in the fridge? According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), raw chicken can be kept in your fridge for approximately 1–2 days. The same applies to raw turkey and other poultry. Storing chicken in the fridge helps slow bacterial growth, as bacteria tend to grow slower in temperatures below 40°F (4°C) (3). Furthermore, raw chicken is best stored in a leak-proof container to...