How Long Can You Keep Thawed Chicken In The Fridge?

Thawing hen correctly is essential for meals security. With out this step, cooking frozen hen might lead to uneven cooking, leaving the within undercooked whereas the surface is overcooked. If correctly thawed, the hen can safely attain an acceptable inside temperature throughout cooking, lowering the chance of foodborne sicknesses.

The method of thawing is especially vital for people who’re at all times on the go. It permits them to plan and put together their meals extra effectively. So, realizing how lengthy thawed hen may be safely saved within the fridge helps them resolve when to thaw the hen in order that it’s prepared for his or her meant meal. This will help streamline meal preparation and cut back last-minute cooking stress.

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So, how lengthy can you retain thawed hen within the fridge, then?

KEEP THAWED CHICKEN IN THE FRIDGE FOR 1 TO 2 DAYS ONLY

As soon as your hen has thawed, the countdown begins, and as per the suggestions of the US Division of Agriculture (USDA), it’s advisable to make use of the thawed hen inside one to 2 days. This guideline primarily revolves round meals security considerations. Uncooked hen meat can doubtlessly include dangerous micro organism like Salmonella and Campylobacter, which grow to be energetic when the meat thaws. Thus, delaying the cooking of thawed hen may end up in these pathogens multiplying quickly. The speed of proliferation for such micro organism or pathogens is swift, doubtlessly doubling their numbers each 20-Half-hour, considerably rising the chance of foodborne sicknesses. These sicknesses can manifest in signs starting from delicate discomfort to extreme well being points.

It’s price noting that hen thawed within the microwave needs to be cooked promptly after thawing. Throughout microwaving, sure sections of the meals might expertise warming and provoke a cooking course of. So storing partially cooked meals within the fridge is discouraged, as any present micro organism might not have been successfully eradicated.

EXTENDING ITS SHELF LIFE

When you discover that you just gained’t have the ability to use the thawed hen inside the really helpful one to 2 days, you will have the choice to freeze it. Nonetheless, if the hen has been thawed utilizing a microwave, Cook dinner it first earlier than freezing to make sure security. Freezing successfully inhibits bacterial development and prolongs the hen’s shelf life. Notably, you possibly can safely refreeze hen that has been beforehand thawed within the fridge. Simply be certain that it has not spent greater than two hours outdoors the fridge, particularly inside the temperature hazard zone (TDZ). The TDZ spans from 40°F (4°C) to 140°F (60°C), and is the vary the place micro organism thrive and multiply quickly in meals.

Additional studying: Protected Thawing Of Frozen Meals

Alternatively, you possibly can retailer the thawed hen within the coldest a part of your fridge, usually close to or under 40°F (4°C). This temperature vary inhibits the expansion of dangerous micro organism, together with Salmonella and E. coli, which may thrive at hotter temperatures.

Simply be sure you tightly seal the hen in a leak-proof plastic bag or an hermetic container. Doing so prevents the hen from drying out, which may happen when moisture evaporates from the meat’s floor. It additionally helps preserve the hen’s high quality by stopping publicity to air, which may result in taste adjustments and freezer burn.