How Long Is Chicken Good After Sell-By Date? What Reddit Users Actually Say

Have you ever stood in front of your fridge, holding a package of chicken that’s past its sell-by date, wondering if it’s still safe to cook? You’re definitely not alone. As someone who regularly buys chicken but sometimes forgets about it for a few days, I’ve found myself in this exact situation more times than I’d like to admit.

According to both Reddit discussions and food safety experts raw chicken typically remains safe for 1-2 days beyond its sell-by date when properly refrigerated. But there’s a lot more to consider before you decide whether to cook it or toss it.

Understanding Those Confusing Date Labels

First things first – what do those dates on chicken packaging actually mean? There’s a lot of confusion around this and for good reason

Sell-By Date: This is primarily for stores to know when to remove products from shelves. It’s not an expiration date! This date tells retailers the last day they should display the product for sale.

Use-By Date: This date is more directly related to safety, but you won’t commonly find it on raw chicken packaging.

Best-By Date: This indicates when the chicken will be at its peak quality – not when it becomes unsafe.

Many Reddit users admit to eating chicken several days past the sell-by date without issues, but food safety experts like the USDA take a more conservative approach, recommending cooking or freezing raw chicken within 1-2 days of purchase.

How Long Can You Really Keep Chicken After the Sell-By Date?

Here’s what you need to know about different types of chicken:

One Reddit user commented “It should be fine by the sell by date. That being said, if you open it then and it’s really sticky and/or smells funky, throw it away immediately”

Another person on Reddit shared their experience with chicken that was 5 days past the sell-by date (the 20th to the 25th), asking if it was still good. The consensus was that it was pushing the limits of safety.

How to Tell If Your Chicken Has Actually Gone Bad

Your senses are your best tools for determining if chicken is still good to eat, regardless of the date on the package. Here are the signs to watch for:

• Slimy texture – Fresh chicken should be moist but not overly slimy or sticky
• Discoloration – Look for grayish, greenish, or yellowish colors instead of white or pink
• Dull or tacky appearance – Spoiled chicken often looks dried out or tacky rather than smooth
• Off smell – This is your best indicator! Raw chicken that’s gone bad has a distinct sour or ammonia-like odor
• Off flavors – If you’ve already cooked it, spoiled chicken will taste rancid rather than juicy

I once ignored a slightly off smell thinking the marinade was making it smell weird. Big mistake! Trust your nose – it’s usually right about these things.

Factors That Affect How Long Chicken Stays Fresh

Several things influence how quickly your chicken will spoil:

Proper Temperature Control – This is super important! Your refrigerator should be at 40°F or below. I bought a fridge thermometer last year and was shocked to find my refrigerator was running at 45°F!

Adequate Packaging – Keep chicken tightly wrapped in its original packaging or in an airtight container.

Sanitation – Practice good hygiene and clean surfaces immediately after they touch raw chicken.

Freshness When Purchased – Chicken that’s already near its sell-by date when bought will obviously have a shorter usable life at home.

Cooking Method – Partially cooking chicken then refrigerating it can actually promote bacterial growth. Always cook chicken thoroughly in one go.

Tips for Safely Extending Chicken’s Shelf Life

Want to make your chicken last longer? Here’s what works for me:

• Freeze chicken if you don’t plan to use it within a couple days of purchasing
• Portion into freezer bags to thaw only what you need at a time
• Don’t rinse raw chicken – this just spreads bacteria around your kitchen
• Marinate chicken in the fridge, never on the counter
• Cook chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F to kill bacteria
• Refrigerate cooked chicken within 2 hours (or 1 hour if it’s over 90°F outside)
• Store chicken on the bottom shelf of your fridge to prevent raw juices from dripping onto other food

I’ve started freezing most of my chicken right after purchase and just thawing portions as needed. This has saved me so much money on wasted food!

What Reddit Users Are Actually Saying

Reddit discussions about chicken safety after the sell-by date reveal some interesting perspectives:

One user commented on a post asking about chicken that was 4 days past the sell-by date: “It should be fine by the sell by date. That being said, if you open it then and it’s really sticky and/or smells funky, throw it away immediately.”

Another thread discussed chicken that was 5 days past the sell-by date, with the consensus being that while some people might risk it, it’s pushing the boundaries of food safety recommendations.

Many Reddit users admit to using the smell test as their primary method for determining if chicken is still good, regardless of dates. While this isn’t the most scientific approach, your nose can definitely detect the compounds produced when meat begins to spoil.

Does Raw Chicken Have a Natural Smell?

This is a common question that comes up in Reddit discussions. Most raw chicken doesn’t have a strong smell, and if it does, that’s usually a warning sign.

However, there’s an interesting exception: some chicken farms and poultry producers add rosemary extract to ground chicken and turkey to reduce lipid oxidation. If you smell a faint herby smell in your ground chicken or turkey, but it’s been stored properly and is within a day or two of purchase, it might just be the rosemary you’re smelling and not spoiled chicken.

What About Cooked Chicken?

If you’ve already cooked your chicken, you have a bit more time. Cooked chicken can typically be kept in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. The USDA recommends this timeframe for safety reasons – after that, the risk of bacterial growth and potential food poisoning increases.

One thing to remember: reheating won’t necessarily make spoiled chicken safe. Heat can kill bacteria, but it can’t destroy all the toxins certain bacteria leave behind.

When to Absolutely Throw It Out

Sometimes it’s just not worth the risk. Here’s when you should definitely toss that chicken:

• If it has a strong, unpleasant odor
• If the texture is extremely slimy or sticky
• If there’s visible discoloration
• If it’s been in your fridge for more than 2 days after the sell-by date
• If you’re not 100% confident in how it’s been stored
• If you’re preparing food for someone with a compromised immune system

I’ve thrown away chicken that was probably fine because I wasn’t completely sure, and I don’t regret it. Food poisoning is miserable and can be dangerous.

My Personal System for Managing Chicken Freshness

After a few too many questionable chicken situations, I’ve developed a system that works pretty well:

1. When I buy chicken, I immediately put a piece of masking tape on it with the date I bought it (not just the sell-by date)
2. If I don’t plan to use it within 1-2 days, it goes straight into the freezer
3. I keep a permanent marker near the freezer to write the date on freezer bags
4. I always give chicken the smell test, regardless of dates

This has saved me both money and worry!

Final Thoughts

While many Reddit users report eating chicken 3-5 days after the sell-by date without issues, food safety experts take a more conservative approach for good reason. Foodborne illness isn’t something to mess with.

The USDA guidelines (1-2 days for raw chicken after purchase) err on the side of caution. If you’re questioning whether your chicken is still good, remember this old saying: “When in doubt, throw it out.” Your stomach will thank you.

Have you ever had an experience with chicken that was past its prime? Do you have your own system for determining freshness? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Raw chicken is good for 1–2 days in the refrigerator after purchase, not after the “sell-by” date, which is a guide for the store and not a safety date. For cooked chicken, you can keep it in the fridge for 3–4 days after cooking. To determine if chicken has gone bad, check for a sour or sulfur smell, a slimy texture, or a gray or green color.

No, raw chicken is not good after 5 days; the USDA recommendshttps://ask.usda.gov/s/article/What-are-suggested-refrigerator-storage-times-for-chicken using or freezing it within 1 to 2 days of purchase to prevent foodborne illness.