Fridge storage

How long does chicken breast last in the fridge?

About 1 day for raw chicken breast. USDA gives 1 to 2 days; Well Stockd plans on the short end.

Times are for a fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below. They’re a guide, not a safety guarantee.

How we checked this: the storage times here come from USDA FoodKeeper and USDA FSIS, plus any other source named on the page, and each one is checked against its source before the page goes live. Editorial policy

How long it keeps

Raw, in the fridge
1 to 2 days refrigerated: raw poultry has the shortest window in the fridge Source: USDA FoodKeeper: Chicken parts (opens in a new tab)
Cooked
3 to 4 days refrigerated Source: USDA FoodKeeper: Leftovers with meat, fish, poultry or egg (opens in a new tab)
Freezer
About 9 months (270 days) at best quality. Frozen food stays safe indefinitely at 0°F; the time is about texture and flavor. Source: USDA FoodKeeper: Chicken parts (opens in a new tab)Compare freezer times for other foods on the printable freezer storage chart.
How to store it
Lowest shelf on a tray so nothing can drip onto ready-to-eat food. Freeze if you will not cook it within two days.
Kitchen list sorted by use soon, grouped into fridge and pantry, each item with its amount and buttons to change it
Your kitchen, sorted by what to use first Free

How to tell if chicken breast has gone bad

Dates are estimates; these are the checks that actually decide it. Don’t taste food to check whether it has gone bad.

Throw it out at once if you see:

  • Slimy or tacky surface
  • Sour or ammonia smell

Not proof on its own. If you see it, check for the signs above:

  • Gray or greenish cast

Sources and limits

That’s not long. If you won’t use it in time, freeze it, or check FoodKeeper’s freezing advice for this food.

Well Stockd doesn’t know when this food was harvested, packed, bought, opened or cooked. Write down the date you opened, cooked or refrigerated it, follow the package directions, keep your fridge at 40°F or below, and check the official listing when food safety is in question.

USDA FSIS and FoodKeeper give raw chicken breast 1 to 2 days, and Well Stockd plans on the short end.

The times in the table come from USDA FoodKeeper, USDA FSIS guidance on refrigerated storage, and any source named beside a row. The number at the top is Well Stockd’s own estimate. It’s a guide, not a safety guarantee: FoodKeeper says storage times are guidelines, and quality varies with how food is grown, handled, shipped and stored. This page was last updated .