How To Tell If Ground Chicken Is Bad

To keep ground chicken in the fridge for up to two days, you should follow all safety rules and store it properly.

When it comes to spoiled ground chicken, it may have a foul smell and a slimy texture. The color may also be grey-brown. Once cooked, the taste is off-putting.

You’ll learn how long raw and cooked ground chicken lasts, how to store it, what happens if you eat bad ground chicken, and more in this article.

Does Ground Chicken Spoil Faster Than Other Meat Cuts?

You may have noticed that ground meat spoils faster than whole cuts of meat if you buy meat frequently.

In the fridge, raw ground beef lasts 1 to 2 days, while beef cuts can last for up to 5 days. This is because ground meat has more surface contact with air, which causes it to spoil sooner.

Raw chicken has a high moisture content and a low pH value, unlike beef and other red meats, so it lasts only two days in the refrigerator.

Ground chicken does spoil more quickly than whole chicken, but it doesn’t necessarily go bad sooner.

How To Store Raw Ground Chicken

The packaging of store-bought ground chicken should be refrigerated in its original packaging if it is undamaged. Ground chicken spoils quickly, so it is important to store it properly to avoid spoilage.

You can refrigerate raw ground chicken in a shallow airtight container or heavy-duty plastic bag if the packaging has been damaged or you haven’t cooked it all.

To preserve the quality and flavor of the ground chicken, make sure to press out excess air from a resealable bag.

You should never leave refrigerated ground chicken uncovered, as it will not only make your fridge smell bad, but it will also absorb other refrigerator odors.

How To Store Cooked Ground Chicken

The chicken should be refrigerated immediately after it has cooled. Do not transfer the chicken into an airtight container when it is still warm or hot in order to avoid excess moisture.

Make sure the bags are tightly sealed and refrigerate cooked ground chicken in shallow airtight containers or resealable plastic bags.

Can You Store Ground Chicken In The Freezer?

Ground chicken can be frozen either raw or cooked – freezing extends its shelf life significantly.

You should freeze ground chicken as soon as possible so that it does not go bad:

Make portions of ground chicken. Freezing ground chicken in portions allows you to use it more efficiently. Meat frozen in small portions also takes less time to defrost.
In order to prevent freezer burn, store ground chicken in airtight containers or bags. You can stack freezer bags together so they take up less space.
The bags should be labeled with the date the ground chicken was frozen, then placed in the freezer.

How Long Does Raw Ground Chicken Last?

There is only a two-hour shelf life for raw ground chicken stored at room temperature.

When grinding your own chicken, keep it in the fridge for 2 days only if the chicken was fresh when ground. Store store-bought raw ground chicken for one to two days in the fridge.

It is best to thaw raw ground chicken overnight in the refrigerator and use it within two days if you are not going to use it within two days. If you cannot use raw ground chicken within two days, either freeze it or cook it.

How Long Does Cooked Ground Chicken Last?

It is easy to use cooked ground chicken to make stews, casseroles, chicken lasagna, etc. However, cooked ground chicken should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours.

It is best to refrigerate cooked ground chicken as soon as it cools down. Cooked ground chicken can last for up to four days in the fridge. Frozen cooked ground chicken can be kept for even longer.

As long as the temperature in your freezer is stable, ground chicken that has been cooked and stored in an airtight container or bag can be stored in the freezer for up to three months.

If you have defrosted cooked ground chicken in the refrigerator, use it within 3–4 days, but if you have defrosted it in the freezer, use it sooner.

Cooked ground chicken that has been defrosted using other methods, such as the microwave and cold water, must be used immediately.

How To Tell If Raw Ground Chicken Is Bad

Ground chicken may not be easy to tell if it has gone bad. Ground meat and poultry take on a gray or brown hue when they spoil, but these changes aren’t as obvious on ground chicken.

In the days following expiration, ground chicken will appear grey-brown and dull.

Check the ground chicken’s color even if it doesn’t change color. If the ground chicken smells sour or sulfurous, discard it.

Check the texture of the ground chicken, as well as the smell and color. Bad ground chicken may be slimy and sticky.

You should not use ground chicken if it has been in the fridge for longer than two days, even if it appears and smells fine.

Defrosting frozen ground chicken is recommended before checking for spoilage signs.

How To Tell If Cooked Ground Chicken Is Bad

Taste the cooked ground chicken to determine if it’s good. Discard it if the aroma is off-putting.

If ground chicken has been sitting at room temperature for more than two hours or has been kept in the fridge for more than four days, it should be thrown away.

How Long Do Cooked Ground Chicken Dishes Last?

It is recommended to refrigerate cooked ground chicken for at least four days before using it.

In the event the chicken used in the dish was freshly cooked, ground chicken dishes, such as chicken lasagna, pasta, and casseroles, should be refrigerated and consumed within four days.

Can You Make Ground Chicken Last Longer?

You should follow these safety tips if you want to maximize the shelf life of ground chicken.

Chicken ground fresh is always the best.
- Besides checking the date on the packaging, you should also use your senses to determine if the chicken is good.
- The color of fresh ground chicken is light pink.
- If possible, smell the ground chicken. Fresh ground chicken should smell either like nothing or like very mild raw chicken.
Ground chicken that feels cold to the touch and is undamaged is the best.
You should add the ground chicken to your shopping cart at the end of your shopping trip, as raw meat shouldn’t be left out for more than two hours.
In spite of the fact that the ground chicken may be well-packaged, it is always a good idea to take extra precautions to prevent cross-contamination.
While it is considered safe to leave ground chicken at room temperature for up to 2 hours, always err on the side of caution and refrigerate it as soon as you get home.
In order to keep ground chicken from being exposed to the cold air of the fridge, make sure the packaging is airtight. If the chicken is still in its original package, wrap it with a layer of plastic wrap.
Defrosting ground chicken and other meats at room temperature or under hot water is not recommended. Thaw frozen ground chicken in the refrigerator.
After defrosting ground chicken in the microwave or cold water, use it as soon as possible.

What Happens If You Eat Spoiled Ground Chicken?

The consumption of bad ground chicken should be avoided at all costs – bad chicken can cause food poisoning.

The symptoms of bad chicken include abdominal pain, upset stomach, and fever.