How long is cooked chicken safe to keep in the fridge?

[Mercury00]

I bought some cooked chicken legs on Sunday and then completely forgot about them. I took the label off so can't see the date, and the packet is open although in a plastic bag. Will I die if I eat them now?

EDIT: Please reply soon as I'm very hungry. They say to eat within two days of opening, it's been four. That could be safe, right?

Edited by Mercury00 on Friday 30th May 01:24

[21TonyK]

Guess you found out by now

[Truckosaurus]

If they pass the 'sniff test' then I'm sure they are safe.

[Mercury00]

I smelled them and they seemed fine, but I didn't want to risk poisoning myself when I'm going away next week and threw them out

[MajorProblem]

The nose knows.

[zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz]

I bought a large silverside joint in the cheap section of Sainsburys a few weeks back, on its last day before throw out. Stuck it in the freezer. On Sunday, took it out and defrosted it, then didn't get around to cooking it, so left it in the fridge until the next day. Cooked it on Monday, and there's still a big chunk of it in the fridge. Think I might go and see if it's begun walking around the fridge yet...

[bint]

Listen to the Major. The nose is the second way of letting you know. First is eyes for any odd colours, but nose and common sense should prevail.

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

bint said:

Listen to the Major. The nose is the second way of letting you know. First is eyes for any odd colours, but nose and common sense should prevail.

Yeah, you can generally tell by using the Mk. 1 eyeball and nose! If unsure - then file it under 'B'.


However, for what it's worth. I often buy an in-store roast chicken from Sainsbury's on a Friday evening, as a semi take-away type treat, but one that isn't expensive (at a fiver) and is a relatively healthy option.

We usually demolish at least a third of it on the night. Sainsbury's say to eat the whole thing within 24 hours. But I have regularly been picking the remains from it up to 4 days later. Although when I do put one in the fridge, I usually turn the fridge setting up a bit.

ETA: Sainsburys and most supermarkets with 'in store' roasters use a high-pressure commercial oven, which gets heat right into the bones, quickly, way better than a domestic oven. I can't see ANY bacteria surviving that, so the meat should be ok for a while, providing you don't touch it, especially with hands which aren't scrupulously clean, and put your own bacteria on it.

Edited by Ray Luxury-Yacht on Friday 30th May 19:58

[V41LEY]

MajorProblem said:

The nose knows.

So true ! and if you have a dog - they know !!