How to Store Raw Chicken in Fridge?

Dishes cooked using fresh, and raw chicken is scrumptious. While most of us are aware of storing techniques of cooked chicken, we usually do not achieve success when we try and store raw chicken in the fridge. We usually end up with foul-smelling and spoilt chicken just after a few days of storing it in the freezer of the refrigerator. So, how to store raw chicken in the fridge?

Chicken and other meats have a reputation for being a “food safety nightmare.” Raw chicken is known to have a bacteria called “salmonella,” which can cause food poisoning if not stored or cooked properly. So, when we are not careful with handling raw chicken, there are high chances that we end up with indigestion.

Fortunately, storing chicken is not at all hard. All you need to do to get started is to learn a few tips that will help you store and prepare your poultry well!

Make sure your chicken is cold – always

Chicken, which is fresh and raw, has to be kept cold if you wish to store it for a few days. This not only extends the shelf life of the poultry, but it also prevents the growth of bacteria. Remember that temperature is one of those factors that can cause the growth of bacteria.

If you are planning to buy stored chicken packages from a store, make sure it is extremely cold. People who wish to store chicken in their fridge for everyday use must ensure to buy it fresh, which is often hard to get when shopping at a store. You can instead order fresh chicken online from stores like Deli Chic.

Once you receive the ordered chicken, make sure you place it in your refrigerator immediately. The fridge needs to maintain a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius (40F) or lower. Chicken stored that way needs to be cooked within 48 hours. If you want it to taste fresh, it is always recommended to use it the same day. If you want to use it the next day, make sure you place it in a bag and freeze it.

Understanding the Dos and Don’ts of Thawing Frozen Chicken

When you learn to store raw chicken in the fridge, it is also important to know who to thaw it perfectly. Firstly, do not defrost frozen chicken using a microwave or over a counter. Though you find various tricks that lead to thawing chicken in a microwave, do not do that. This also applies if your microwave has an option of defrosting.

But why? Well, the reason is quite simple. A microwave generates immense heat when defrosting, and such high temperatures can often aid the bacteria growth in the chicken. The defrost option is known to be one of the wrong ways to defrost poultry as it combines extremely high temperatures with time. During this time, the bacteria reproduce, making the chicken harmful to consume.

One of the best ways to thaw chicken that is frozen is to plan and thaw it in the fridge itself. If you are storing a whole chicken, it can normally take about two days for it to thaw fully. Boneless or breasts normally take less time and thaw in about 10-12 hours or overnight.

Once the chicken thaws, do not store it for more than a day and make sure to use it within 24 hours. If you cannot, make sure you at least toss it before storing it. If you have to use the frozen chicken as you forgot to thaw it, you can cook it directly in its frozen condition. Though it is not the ideal cooking process, it is good to handle an emergency.

How to store raw chicken?

Storage temperatures to store various types of fresh raw chicken

Raw packed chicken can be stored in the refrigerator in its actual wrapping. Make sure you place it in the coldest part of the fridge. Make sure to use it within a day or two. If you want to store it for a longer duration, place it in the freezer instead.
Fresh, raw chicken needs to be placed in the lowest shelf of your fridge. This prevents it from dripping into other items.
If you wish to prevent the occurrence of a freezer burn, wrap the chicken pieces in a plastic bag or a foil. Place all these pieces in a large freezer bag. Remove all the air and add a label with the date they were frozen.
Chicken parts like drumsticks or breasts can be stored in the refrigerator for about 2-3 days and in the freezer for up to 9 months.
Chicken sausages can be stored in the freezer for one or two months and in the fridge for a day or two.
Giblets and ground chicken can be stored in the fridge for 1 or 2 days and in the freezer for 2-3 months.
A fresh whole chicken can be stored in the fridge for a day or two and in the freezer for nine months to a year.

Raw chicken has to be handled with care. Make sure to rinse it well and pat it dry before storing or cooking. Make sure anything that comes in contact with uncooked chicken is clean. Chicken has to be cooked well before eating, and never store chicken beyond a day or two, as improper storage can often increase the growth of bacteria.

Instead of storing chicken for days, you can order fresh chicken and other meats online with ease. Deli Chic provides online delivery of fresh, halal meat right to your doorstep. Customers get to choose from chicken cuts, whole chicken, heat and eat foods, and more.

Now that you know how to store raw chicken in the fridge do give it a try. If you are unsure about the whole process, just ditch the process and order chicken online, fresh every day.