An official website of the United States government. Have a Question? How long can you freeze chicken? Information Knowledge Article. If kept frozen continuously, chicken will be safe indefinitely, so after freezing, it's not important if any package dates expire. For best quality, taste and texture, keep whole raw chicken in the freezer up to one year; parts, 9 months; and giblets or ground chicken, 3 to 4 months. Cooked chicken will taste best if kept frozen up to 4 months; cooked poultry casseroles or pieces covered with broth or gravy, 6 months; and chicken nuggets or patties, 1 to 3 months.
For more information about the safe handling of chicken, see Chicken from Farm to Table. However, he also agrees with Sidoti and says that vacuum-sealing the chicken is your best bet at preventing freezer burn. Do you know why freezer burn happens? Sidoti explains that it's the process that occurs when the chicken is exposed to air, undergoing dehydration. Foods that have experienced freezer burn are safe to eat , but they likely won't taste as good. I suggest you add another layer of protection by wrapping the package in aluminum foil.
Got all of that down? Individual pieces of raw chicken stay good in the freezer for 9 months, and whole chickens are good for up to a year when frozen. Freezing cooked chicken is a great way to reduce food waste. The best way to thaw chicken is to move the frozen package from the freezer onto a plate and into the fridge, and then let it thaw gradually.
If frozen chicken is thawed in the refrigerator, the defrosted chicken can last in the fridge for an additional days before cooking. Planning to cook your frozen chicken sooner rather than later? You can also thaw frozen chicken in the microwave, but if you want to use that method, you should plan to cook it immediately after thawing to prevent bacteria from growing. You can learn more about how to store meat and how long meat can last in the fridge or freezer with our meat storing tips.
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