How long does fried chicken last in the fridge?
Fried chicken keeps 3 to 4 days in the fridge and 4 months in the freezer, per USDA FoodKeeper.
Updated
| Food | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Fried chicken | 3 to 4 days | 4 months |
Can you freeze fried chicken?
Yes. Fried chicken keeps 4 months in the freezer, per USDA FoodKeeper. Freezer times are for best quality: food kept at 0°F stays safe longer, but it dries out and loses flavor. Freeze the pieces on a tray first, then move them to a freezer bag.
How to store fried chicken
Do not seal it while it is still hot, or the coating steams soft. Let it cool on a rack for a few minutes, then put it in a container lined with paper towel and get it into the fridge within 2 hours.
How long can fried chicken sit out?
No more than 2 hours at room temperature, or 1 hour when it is above 90°F, such as at a summer picnic. After that, USDA says to throw it out.
How do you reheat fried chicken so it stays crisp?
Heat it in the oven on a rack set over a tray until it reaches 165°F inside. A microwave is faster but makes the coating soft.
How to tell if fried chicken has gone bad
Go by the days, not by the smell. The germs that cause food poisoning usually do not change how food looks, smells or tastes, so food past its time can seem fine and still make you sick. Mold, a sour smell or a slimy feel mean it has spoiled, but food without them is not safe just because it seems fine. Never taste food to check it. When in doubt, throw it out.
How to reheat fried chicken
Heat leftovers until the middle reaches 165°F on a food thermometer, and bring soups, sauces and gravy to a rolling boil. Cover the food while it heats so it stays moist and heats all the way through. In a microwave, stir or turn it halfway. You can reheat frozen leftovers without thawing them first. It takes longer.
Times from USDA FoodKeeper, the storage data from USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service: data version 128, last changed September 6, 2018, still the current version. Public domain. The handling rules are from USDA's Leftovers and Food Safety.