Can I freeze, thaw, and then re-freeze chicken?
While re-freezing thawed chicken or other meats can be done safely, it is not recommended. My preference is that once thawed (and this is done in the refrigerator) cook the chicken and freeze the cooked meat to consume at another time. However, if the chicken has been defrosted in the refrigerator and still has ice crystals you could re-freeze. But you can expect lower quality (texture) meat.
I boiled and boned a chicken, then froze it. I thawed it and made a casserole. Can I refreeze it?
Yes, you may safely refreeze it as long as the chicken has been handled correctly. The cooked chicken should have been defrosted in the fridge. The casserole should have been cooled quickly and refrigerated. It can now be frozen. When ready to serve, thaw the casserole in the fridge and heat quickly, only what you will use, to a piping hot 77C (170F). Enjoy!
I have made and froze some chicken stock. Is it safe to defrost this and use it in a recipe and then freeze that meal?
Yes, it will be safe as long as the recipe is cooked before freezing.
I made turkey broth in a stainless steel pot. Is it safe to store food in the refrigerator in stainless steel cookware or should the food be placed in storage containers?
As a general rule, food should be placed in storage containers. Manufacturers caution against allowing acidic or salty foods to remain in stainless steel for long periods. Although there are no known hazards from leaching of the metal, salt can pit steel surfaces.
Can you tell me what would cause black mold spots to grow on the chicken?
Darkening of meat around poultry bones can occur in young chickens. Since the bones have not calcified or hardened completely, pigment from the bone marrow seeps through the bones and into the surrounding meat. Freezing can also contribute to this darkening. This is not a food safety issue but an aesthetic one. If this is the cause of your black spots, the chicken is safe to eat when cooked to 82C/180F.
I was preparing chicken and I noticed the chicken pieces had a dark green blue discoloration and smelled. Do you think I should still use it or chuck it out?
I would not recommend eating the chicken. You have noticed an off odour and colour changes which can indicate that the food has spoiled. If in doubt, throw it out.
I cooked a turkey with the giblet bag still inside. Is it safe to eat the turkey?
The safety of the turkey depends on what the giblets were packaged in when cooked inside the bird. If wrapped in paper and cooked to a safe temperature, there would be no concern. If wrapped in plastic and the plastic was altered or melted during the cooking, do not use the giblets or the turkey because harmful chemicals may have migrated into the surrounding meat. If the plastic wrapping was not altered, the giblets and turkey would be safe to eat if cooked to a safe temperature.
Does freezer burn on a chicken that's been in the freezer for a month, mean it's unsafe to cook?
The chicken is safe to eat, but the areas with freezer burn will be dried out and tasteless and can be trimmed away, if desired. Your freezer burn has occurred because the chicken was not freezer wrapped and sealed properly.
We had crockpot of homemade chicken and noodles. Left-overs were put in cleaned out cool whip containers and left on the table for 2 hours. I then noticed greenish frothy bubbles all over the top that were actually moving around! Can something like this spoil that fast?
Yes, something like this can spoil that fast and develop enough harmful bacteria to make you very sick. The chicken and noodles have clearly been mishandled. The temperature of the crockpot may not have been hot enough. The food should have measured 165F/ 74C with a food thermometer. It should have been served within 2 hours of being prepared. Then once served, the leftovers should have been chilled as quickly as possible, but within one hour.
- How long is cooked chicken good for in the fridge?
- Cooked chicken kept in the refrigerator is good for 3 to 4 days.
- How long will cooked chicken stay good for in the fridge?
- Cooked chicken will keep for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.
- How long is cooked chicken safe in the fridge. Meaning how many days can it sit in the fridge and be eaten?
- Cooked chicken can be kept in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
- How long does Chicken keep for after its been cooked? (whole chicken, roasted)
- In the refrigerator, cooked chicken would keep for 3 to 4 days and in the freezer, this shelflife is extended to 4 to 6 months.
- I broiled chicken breasts Saturday night, was wondering how long can you keep in the refrigerater? Thanks
- Once cooked, your broiled chicken breasts should keep for 3 to 4 days in hte refrigerator.
- I barbequed boneless chicken cutlets. they were left out all night. If i micro wave them will they be safe to eat.
- No, do not consume the cutlets. They have been left in the danger zone temperature for much more than two hours.
- How long can we leave chicken on the counter once cooked? Should we put it in the refrigerator while it is still hot?
- Once cooked, chicken should not stay at room temperature any longer than 2 hours (an hour during summer). I recommend to separate the meat from the bones, put in shallow containers and refrigerated as soon as possible even if the meat is still warm.
- How long will cooked chicken breast last in a Tuperware-style container in the refrigerator?
- Your cooked chicken breats will keep for 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator.
- My friend left on vacations. By mistake, i unplugged the freezer and plugged it back few hours later. Do you think that my friend will notice? Is he/she risking food poisoning? Thanks!
- A freezer, as long as the door remains closed, will keep food frozen for up to 24 hours. Leaving it umplugged for 2 hours should not thaw the food. However, it would be good to check the food to ensure all items are still frozen. Items like ice cream that may have thawed should be discarded.
- Hi! I would be happy if you can help me with the following question: a chicken that was slaughtered Friday and cooked on Saturday, how many days can it be kept in the refrigerator? Thanks!
- Cooked chicken can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Freeze for longer storage
- How long can you keep frozen chicken stock?
- Recommended storage time for chicken stock would be 3 months.
- How long does cooked chicken keeps in the refrigerator?
- Cooked chicken can be refrigerated for three to four days.
- As I went to bed last night - I told myself not to forget to put the marinating chicken breasts in the fridge - they were still on the counter in the morning - they have been in an air conditioned home all night (10 hours) in a sealed zip lock bag covered in a citrus based marinade...can they be bbq'd or should I start all over again?
- I'm afraid you'll have to start all over again. When chicken breasts are marinated at room temperature there is a high risk that they will be contaminated with bacteria that cause food borne illness.
- I cooked fresh chicken breasts and accidently left them in the microwave overnight as I was waiting for them to cool before putting in the fridge. I put them in the fridge in the morning are they still ok to eat?
- Definitely do not consume the chicken as it has been left in the danger zone temperature for more than two hours. In the future, it is best to package the chicken in a smaller, shallow containers and put in the refrigerator or freezer as soon as possible.
- I smoke cooked some chicken breast and froze them. I then thawed them in the refrigerator. Can I re-freeze half of them and cook the rest?
- Refreezing your smoke cooked chicken breasts increases the risk of bacterial contamination. Next time freeze the breasts in single use portions.
- How long would raw chicken breasts keep in the refrigerator. I bought chicken on Monday night, and is now Friday, and I was going to cook it up tonight.
- Fresh raw chicken breasts can be stored in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
- I thawed thin boneless chicken breasts in the refrigerator 3 days ago, is it safe to cook the chicken today?
- Once thawed in the refrigerator, your boneless chicken breasts should be cooked within two days.
- I took out chicken from the freezer to defrost in the refrigerator. How long can i keep it in there?
- Once defrosted, your chicken should be cooked within two days.
- We have a large turkey in the freezer for a little less than 2 years. Can we thaw it, cook it and then eat it without any problem? Thanks!
- The recommended storage time for frozen turkey is 12 months. Your turkey will still be safe to eat (if thawed and cooked properly) but may be of lower quality.
- How long does a opened box of organic chicken broth keep in the fridge?
- Once opened, canned or boxed chicken broth will keep 3 to 4 days refrigerated. Freeze any leftovers.
- I want to cook a large chicken (2.5kg) ready for Sunday lunch at 1.15pm. However, I leave home at 9.15am and only return at 12 o'clock. There won't be time to start cooking it at 12 o'clock. Would it be safe to start cooking it early on a high temp. for 30 mins and then put it very low? If so, could you recommend times and temperatures? Alternatively, if it's safer to cook it on Saturday, cool it and refrigerate it, then slice it up and re-heat on Sunday, could you tell me the best way to re-heat it?
- Very low temperatures are not safe for cooking chicken. Roast it on Saturday. Cool slightly, then slice the meat off the bones and refrigerate in shallow containers.When ready to serve on Sunday, reheat to piping hot 74C/165F.
- Can we thaw chicken breasts on the counter at room temperature (approximately 3 hours)?
- No, chicken breasts cannot be safely thawed on the counter at room temperature. They can be safely thawed in the refrigerator or sealed in a package in a sink of cold water, changing the water every 45 minutes. They can also be thawed in the microwave, if they are cooked immediately.
- I took chicken breast out of the freezer and put in the fridge to thaw. I forgot about it until monday. will it still be okay to cook and eat? Thank you.
- Once your chicken is thawed, it should be cooked within two days.
- I took some frozen chicken out of the freezer on Friday. It did not entirely thaw until late Sunday or Monday. How long can it safely stay in the fridge? or when should I cook it by?
- Once chicken is defrosted, it should be cooked within two days.
- I had chicken wings on Sunday with some left over. I wanted to reheat them (5 days later)and wasn't sure how long they can keep in the fridge?
- The recommended storage time for cooked, leftover food is 3 to 4 days. Freeze for longer storage.
- Can I eat defrosted chicken without reheating
- Yes, as long as the chicken if fully cooked and has been defrosted in the refrigerator.
- I cooked a chicken six days ago. I kept the chicken broth in the refrigerator but did not have the time to use it to make a soup. Is it too late or can I still use the broth?
- I would not use the broth after six days. It would be best to use within 3 to 4 days or freeze for a longer storage time.
- I had a turkey in the freezer for 11 months. I took it out to thaw it in the fridge. It was in the fridge for 2 days when my husband decided to put it on the kitchen counter to thaw "faster". When I came home from work he said it had been out for about 6 hours, should I still cook it?
- Do not cook the turkey. It should be discarded because it was left at room temperature for more than two hours. Even if it was still frozen in the centre, the surface of the turkey may have reached the danger zone temperatures, allowing bacteria to grow freely.
- How long can I keep fresh chicken breasts in the freezer?
- Recommended storage time for chicken breasts in the freezer is 6 months.
- I baked a chicken stuffed with dirty rice on Wednesday night (late) and placed it in the fridge immediately after it cooled. It is now Saturday. I see that cooked chicken by itself can last 3-4 days in the fridge; however, does chicken stuffed with rice have a shorter fridge lifespan? Or is it the same?
- An important safe food handling step is to remove all of the stuffing from the cavity of a chicken or turkey as soon as it comes out the oven. Otherwise, it may take the stuffing more than the two hours to cool to refrigeration temperatures. Stored in two separate containers, both the rice and the chicken could be stored as leftovers for 3 to 4 days or frozen for 2 to 3 months.
- I took chicken out of the freezer to defrost last night and left it on the counter overnight. Can I still cook it or do I need to throw it away?
- Please discard. The chicken has been left in the danger zone temperature for more than two hours.
- I was making turkey broth and accidentally left it on the stove overnight. In the morning, when I realized what I had done, it was still lukewarm. Can I re-boil it and still use the broth? Thanks for your reply.
- No, do not use the broth, discard it. The temperature of the broth would have been in the danger zone, the temperature at which bacteria grow very fast, for more than two hours. At this point, boiling the broth, may not be adequate to kill all the bacteria and would not kill any toxins made by the bacteria.
- I made Osso Bucco and froze it. I defrosted it all because I was expecting a lot of company. Unfortunatly they did not all come. Can I refreeze the remaining portions?
- You can refreeze the veal shanks again and they will be safe to eat. However, you may find the quality of the dish will not be as good when you thaw it the second time.
- Cooked chicken stew on Sunday and it was refrigerated after we finished our meal. Is it safe to eat on Wed. or Thursday. It looks and smells good??
- Yes your cooked chicken stew would be safe to eat on Wednesday or Thursday. Leftovers such as your dish can be kept in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days after it has been cooked as long as it was refrigerated right away and cool down rapidly by putting them in small shallow containers.
- Our (cooked) Thanksgiving turkey is presently about ten days old. It has been in the fridge all this time. Are the remaining bits still good to eat?
- 10 days is a long time to be storing the cooked turkey in the fridge. I recommend using the meat within 4 to 5 days. If you are unable to use within that time, freeze the meat. I also have some questions for you to consider the safety of the meat. Did you remove all the meat from the turkey carcas once it came out of the oven? Did you get the meat into the fridge within two or less hours of it being cooked?
- I baked chicken last night for enchilladas the next day. I cut up the chicken and put it in a gladwear container, sealed. Unfortunately I left it on the counter overnight. However, our house is quite chilly (62) and the chicken was almost cool to the touch about 8 hours later the next morning when I remembered it. I put it in the fridge immediately. Can I still eat it today in my enchilladas?
- Definitely do not consumer the chicken. Even though your house is cool, it is still not refrigeration temperature - 4ºC (40ºF) - therefore the chicken was in the danger zone temperature for more than 2 hours.
- Refrigerator, in the freezer part, preserving time for a 10 lbs turkey purchased frozen without pulling it out for checking it?
- Recommended storage time for a whole turkey in the freezer is 12 months. It will be safe beyond that time but will lose quality.
- I bought boneless chicken breast and it was streaked with two different colors: a fleshy "normal" color and then a whiter color. Does this mean that the chicken is spoiled? All the packages in the store contained this discolored chicken. I am not going to eat it now, and the store said I could bring in my receipt, but I was just wondering. Thank you.
- The discolouration may be a little bit of fat or it could be freezer burn. In either case the chicken is not spoiled.
- How long can you keep chicken stock in the fridge?
- Chicken stock can be refrigerated for two days or frozen for 4 months.
- Hi. I was wondering how long my thawed ground turkey will last in the fridge? it is past it's expiration date, but was frozen prior, and just finished thawing today. also, will it last longer if I were to cook it and store it in the fridge?
- Once your ground turkey is thawed, it is very perishable and should be cooked within one to two days. Once cooked, it can be safely refrigerated for three to four days or frozen for four months.
- I put chicken from the freezer into the refrigerator to thaw. I know once thawed, chicken should be cooked within 2 days, but how long does it take to thaw? I want to know if chicken taken out of the freezer into the fridge on Monday night is ok to cook and eat Thursday night. Thank you!
- How long it takes your chicken to thaw would depend on whether or not it is boneless, how large the piece of chicken is and the temperature of your fridge.You will have to check for ice crystals and when there are none it is thawed. Then cook within two days. In your case, if it is a whole chicken, it should be OK to cook and eat on Thursday night.
- How long can you keep a frozen turkey in the refrigerator?
- Your frozen turkey will keep for a year in the freezer.
- How long can a frozen turkey be thawed in the refrigerator before cooking
- It will take approximately 10 hours per kilogram/5 hours per pound to thaw your turkey in the refrigerator. Once thawed, cook within two days.
- I am thawing my Thanksgiving turkey and want to know once thawed how many extra days it can stay in the fridge.
- Once thawed, cook your turkey within two days.
- How many days can we keep in the refrigerator a vacuum-packed fresh chicken (not frozen)? Thanks!
- Unless there is a Best Before Date on the label, fresh chicken can be refrigerated as long as 2-3 days.
- how long after a frozen turkey has been defrosted in the refrig can you cook it
- Once a frozen turkey has been defrosted in the refrigerator, it should be cooked within two days.
- We want to cook our turkey the night before. When done, can we leave it in the roaster? How long should we let it cool before we put it in the refrigerator? When we warm it, how long should we leave it in the over and at what temperature?
- Do not leave the cooked turkey in the roaster. After removing it from the oven, let stand 15 to 20 minutes. If stuffed, remove the stuffing and refrigerate it promptly. Then cut the turkey off the bone and slice the breast. Legs and wings may be left whole. Spread the turkey in shallow containers, cover lightly and refrigerate until cold, then wrap tightly. Refrigerate the gravy. To serve, reheat the stuffing and the turkey in a 325/350 degree oven to a piping hot 74 degrees C / 165 degrees F. Bring gravy to a rolling boil.
- I left 2 frozen raw chicken breasts on the counter for 40 mins then i put them in the fridge to thaw after reading this website (they were still frozen and covered in ice when i put them in the fridge)...are the chicken breasts still safe to eat?
- Your suspicions are correct. The safest way to thaw frozen food is in the refrigerator, not on the counter at room temperature. But because you put them in the fridge within 40 minutes, before they were completely thawed, they will be safe to cook and eat.
- I cooked a turkey soup and forgot to put in the refrigator. I left it out all night in the pot. Is it safe to eat. Thank you soo much Joann
- Your turkey soup should be discarded. Once it was left at room temperature longer than two hours, there is a risk it could contain harmeful bacteria.
- my daughter left the cooked turkey carcass out overnight before it was refrigerated. Will boiling kill any bacterial that may have formed?
- Boiling may kill any bacteria present but it will not destroy the heat resistant toxins produced by some bacteria. Discard the carcass.
- Hello, I recently bought frozen chicken breasts from the grocery store. The texture when cooked (either baked,or stirfried)is spongy/chewy and not like chicken should be. I have bought the very same chicken breasts before and they were not this texture. It seems like it is hit and miss. Once before the same thing happened. What is wrong with the chicken breasts. How can I cook them to make them edible?
- There is nothing wrong with your chicken breasts. If they were pre-seasoned this could affect the texture of the cooked breast. Also the temperature to which they are cooked will affect the texture. Use a food thermometer to check they are cooked to a safe temperature of 170F/77C.
- I bought a frozen 16 lb turkey and put it in the fridge. It has taken 10 days to thaw completely. When I opened it the inside bag and neck were still frozen. One wingtip is discolored like a freezer burn discoloration. Is this turkey safe to eat?
- Your turkey will be safe to eat if cooked within two days of thawing. The inside bag and neck are removed before cooking so it does not matter if they are a bit icy.The wingtip, which may have freezer burn, can be removed and discarded when you carve the cooked turkey.
- We have an extra freezer to store meat. On sunday early evening I went to put something in and found out that it had been accidentally turned off. We believe it was turned off either Thur. afternoon or Friday early evening. The chicken inside was soft but not mushy i.e. some ice crystals left inside. We immediately turned freezer on. Now four days later we took chicken out, no smell or anything and are cooking it for a long time. Question: Is it safe to eat?
- If there were ice crystals left in the partially thawed chicken and it felt as cold as if refrigerated, it could be safely refrozen. However, if the chicken was contaminated with harmful bacteria, cooking it for a long time may not make it safe. Some bacteria produce heat resistant toxins.
- I usually cook several chicken breast the night before I got to work. I slice up the breast and package them in a tupple ware container along with other foods (rice, green beans, pastas etc.) Once I have packaged the food into the containers I pack them into my cooler that I take with me to work the next morning. Is this safe? Keep in mind I am not putting the cooler in the refrigerator. The cooler stays at room temperature that night and stays in my car during the day. Thanks for your help.
- Cooked chicken breasts, rice, beans pastas are all perishable foods and have to be kept refrigerated. Once they a prepared and cooled slightly, they should be refrigerated in the containers. In the morning, transfer the containers of food to your cooler with ice or cooler packs that keep the food at 4 degrees C/40 degrees F until you’re ready to eat.
- I bought raw, fresh cut chicken from the butchers on Thursday evening. Put it directly in the freezer. Unwashed, untouched except by the butcher. Is it safe to thaw and cook on Monday evening? Thank You!
- It would be safe to thaw them and cook them on Monday night! Just make sure that you thaw them in the refrigerator and not a room temperature. Furthermore, I do not recommend that you wash the chicken as this operation could spread more bacteria than you would want. Thaw them in the refirgerator and cooked them right away.
- I noticed your two hour safe rule for chicken out on the counter. I pulled out a frozen casserole last night to thaw. THE CHICKEN WAS ALREADY COOKED in it....I accidentally left it out overnight! Does the two hour rule for apply if the chicken was already cooked before frozen? thank you!
- Yes, the two hour rule applies to all perishable food. Since freezing inactivates bacteria but does not kill them, a cooked chicken casserole is perishable and should be thawed in the refrigerator.
- Hi! I started thawing a large turkey about 7 days ago. It must have complete thawed four to five days ago. Can I still cook it safely and prepare pâtés today without any problems. Thanks!
- Once a turkey is completely thawed, it should be cooked within two days. After two days, there will be loss of quality and harmful bacteria may develop.
- We had a turkey completely thaw out in the refrigerator. Then my husband cut the breast and refroze them are they safe to cook and eat?
- If the breasts were removed and frozen within two days of the turkey being completely thawed in the refrigerator, they would be safe to thaw, cook as soon as thawed and eat.
- My turkey is ready to cook but I still have 7 days before x-mas. Can I stuff it and cook it; then freeze the turkey without having to carve it up? I would remove stuffing and juices and freeze them and thaw it out in fridge the day before x-mas re-stuff the turkey and add juices back in and cook the turkey to re-heat everything still having the turkey looking nice? How long should I re-heat it for and at what temperature? Thank you for your help
- Yes, you can stuff and cook the turkey ahead of time and freeze it. But the stuffing must be removed from the turkey and frozen separately. Then the legs and wings must be removed and the breast sliced. Spread all cooked meat on a shallow tray, cool and freeze as quickly as possible. Thaw in the refrigerator, cover l loosely with foil and reheat turkey and stuffing at 325 degrees until a food thermometer registers 74 degrees C/165 degrees F. Bring gravy to a full rolling boil.
- Is frozen turkey soup I made last Christmas still good?
- That turkey soup should be discarded. Frozen turkey soup should be used within 4-6 months.
- My turkey thawed out before i wanted it to. I had to bake it 4 days before the time of my dinner plans. Can I freeze the whole turkey without cuting it up. Or can I leave it in the refrige for 4 days and then heat it up for my meal? thank you, Fern
- It is not safe to refrigerated a whole cooked turkey. After roasting, as soon as it can be handled, the meat should be carved from the bones, spread on a shallow tray and refrigerated to cool quickly. If stuffed, the stuffing should be refrigerated separately. It can be refrigerated for 3-4 days or frozen. Reheat at 325 degrees until a food thermometer inserted in the turkey and the stuffing measures 165 F/ 74 C. Gravy should be brought to a full rolling boil. If you refrigerated the turkey, whole, there is a risk that it could be contaminated with harmful bacteria
- i bought a fresh turkey 10kg december 05 froze it straight away in my freezer,it has been in the freezer for 12 months is it safe to eat still. thanking you.
- Your turkey would be safe to eat as it is at its limit of preservation in the freezer (1 year). At this time, it should be thawed in the refrigerator and cooked promptly to an internal temperature of 85 degrees C / 185 degrees F.
- My turkey is in the refrigerator and not thawed. Can I finish it in cold water and can I put it in the refrigerator until tomorrow, and then cook it?
- Yes, when thawing a turkey, you can thaw it partially in the refrigerator and partially in a sink of cold water, replacing the water with more cold water every 45 minutes
- I have left over turkey and I would like to make a soup. I don't have the carcas. Can and how do I make a soup? Thank you.
- Check out the following websites to find recipes using turkey:
www.canadianturkey.ca
http://www.butterball.ca/english/index.html
- How long can I keep homemade chicken noodle soup in the fridge? I made it Saturday and today in Tuesday.
- Homemade soups can be safely refrigerated for 2 to 3 days or frozen for 4 months.
- Can i still cook raw chicken thats been left out in the oven for 2 days?
- Definitely do not cook that raw chicken. If it has been left in an unheated oven at room temperature for longer than two hours, it should be discarded.
- I marinated chicken cutlets in apple cider vinegar, garlic,ginger,capers 48 hours, skillet fried. How long is it safe to marinate chicken in fridge???
- Recipes usually recommend marinating several hours or overnight. Longer marinating, for as long as two days, may be safe. but the texture of the chicken will not be good.
- How long can we keep cooked chicken(chicken curry,chicken with rice etc...)in the refrigerator?
- Cooked chicken and cooked chicken dishes can be safely kept in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
- I bought cooked chicken wings about 4 hours ago and did not finish them. Would it be safe to finish them now if they have been at room temperature since then? Thanks.
- Your chicken wings should be discarded, not eaten. If they were at room temperature longer than 2 hours, there is a risk they could be contaminated with harmful bacteria.
- Can we can turkey meat in its juice the same way we can spaghetti sauce? Sterilized the pots, put in pieces of turkey with broth, close lid, put in the oven until it boils, pull them out and wait to hear the "click". Properly seal the pots after? Thanks!
- Absolutely do not use your oven for canning. Mason jars used for canning food are not tempered for the dry heat in an oven and therefore, there is the risk that the jars may break and even explode. To safely can foods such as turkey and spaghetti sauce, you require a pressure canner. For more information on canning contact Bernardin at 1-888-430-4231
- I thawed a turkey in the refrigerator over a two day period and opened the package for cooking that night. The rear of the turkey, including the back turkey legs and thighs, were discolored a dark coloration--something I've never seen. Although I washed the turkey well, the discoloration was still there. The turkey was cooked well before the sale by date on the package and also remained in the original package (although I did notice some turkey blood leaked out on the platter I put under the turkey when thawing in the refrigerator). After being cooked, the discolored part was a little darker and dry looking. Is it safe to eat the turkey. Should the discolored parts be thrown away? Is it safe to use the turkey broth in the pan?
I have consult with the Canadian Turkey Marketing Agency and here is the information they provided:
There are a couple of potential causes for the discoloration: it may be due in part to insufficient bleed out in the plant; it could also have been caused by bruising before or during processing.
If the dark coloration was a dark red or purplish tone, it is safe to eat – otherwise, she should return the product for full refund. We would also suggest that you see if you can obtain a brand name and ask the processor to respond directly, as they should be aware of the observation.
- You say several times that cooked chicken will keep 3-4 days in a refrigerator, but in response to a question about how long broiled chicken breasts will keep in tuperware in the refrigerator, you said only 2-3 days. Why the different answer?
- I apologise if a difference in storage time for leftovers has caused confusion. The length of time for storing leftovers of any kind is a guideline and greatly depends on how the food has been handled before and after it was cooked. And that guideline does vary - from 2 to 3 days to 3 to 4 days. Ideally we want you to consume food as soon as possible once it is cooked. If you don't think you will be able to, freeze the food right away and don't let it spoil in your fridge.
- Hi! How long should I boil a chicken so I could get a kilo and a half of chicken pieces. Thanks!
- For information on preparing chicken go the the website:
www.chicken.ca Go to their What's Cooking section.
- How old can cooked chicken be (kept in a cold fridge) and still be safely boiled for broth?
- Cooked chicken may be refrigerated at 4 degrees C/40 degrees F or below for as long as four days before safely boiling to make a broth.Or it may be safely frozen for as long as six months.
- Hi! I accidently consumed some half-cooked chicken (stuffed breast). I noticed it as I was almost done as the raw part was in the middle. What should I do?
- There is nothing that can be done. Yes, there is a risk that you consumed some harmful bacteria. But you may not get sick. During the next 72 hours watch for symptoms such as upset stomach, cramps, diarrhea. If they are severe or persist, see a doctor.
- I cooked a chicken than froze it for a few weeks. I thawed it for a day then cooked a chicken curry. The leftovers were in a covered pan at room temperature for 3 hours. Is it safe to re-heat and eat tomorrow or even re-freeze?
- There is a risk that your chicken curry may not be safe to eat. Here is why: Each time a food is frozen and defrosted the risk of contamination increases. Cooked chicken should be refrigerated and used within 3 to 4 days, including the thawing and refrigerating before making the curry. Cooked chicken and curry should not be left at room temperature longer than two hours, one hour in the summer.
- I cooked a meat sauce with chicken and meatballs mixed it with pasta fed it to my family, then froze the leftovers to later defrost and eat later on. Is it safe to microwave it for later consumption?
- Yes, it can be safe to reheat your leftovers in the microwave. But for safety they should be reheated to 165F/74C throughout. And we're finding that the microwave does not reheat the food evenly. So defrost the food in the refrigerator and once heated, check with a food thermometer in several spots that the food has reached the safe temperature.
- Hello Mrs. Cookwell, I have some "butterfly style" chicken breasts that have been in the freezer for approx. 5 months (the best before date is Oct. 5th/06). When I bought them, I put them inside a clear plastic produce bag, in addition to the store's shrinkwrap. Are they still safe to eat? Thank you, Susan
- Chicken parts can be frozen for as long as six months without loss of quality. But there may be some quality loss if they are not over wrapped in freezer wrap or bags designed for freezer use. Produce bags are not adequate.
- I purchased a whole roasted chicken yesterday at the grocery store. It has been refrigerated but I did not cut the meat off the bone.It is still whole. Is it safe to eat today?
- The reason that it's recommended turkey and chicken be removed from the carcass before refrigerating is to speed up the chilling process thus reducing the risk that harmful bacteria could multiply. A small roast chicken would chill more quickly than a large one. If you do decide to eat yours, heat quickly to a piping hot 165F/74C.
- I bought frozen stuffed chicken breast with a bread stuffing I cook it to 170 degrees but the inner piece of chichen around stuffing always looks pink why?
- The colour of cooked poultry is not a sure sign of its degree of doneness. So have confidence in your meat thermometer. Ingredients in the stuffing may be causing the pink colour.
- My boyfriend has the habit to cook food directly coming out of the freezer. I am asking myself if this is a good practice to put frozen meat in the oven or directly in a pan on the stove and cook it? Thanks!
- When meat is cooked from the frozen state, there is a risk that it will be cooked unevenly. The outside may be overdone while the inside has not cooked to a safe temperature. So be sure to check each piece of meat with a food thermometer to be sure it has reached the safe tempertaure listed on my handy cooking chart.
- Can I thaw frozen chicken, marinate it, cook it and refreeze it? How long will it stay in the freezer.
- Yes, if the chicken pieces are thawed in the refrigerator, marinated in the refrigerator overnight and cooked to a safe temperature of 77C/170F, the leftovers can be frozen as long as 6 months.
- If I cook chicken breasts and then put them in a tupperware container with rice and vegetables then freeze them will they be okay to eat when I defrost them?
- As long as your chicken,rice and vegetables were chilled quickly then frozen, they can be stored in the freezer as long as three months. And they will be safe to eat when defrosted in the fridge.
- I would like to freeze some fresh chicken wings, in lets say June, and use them the following January, is @ 8 months safe to freeze then use chicken wings, and if so what is the ideal temp?
- Raw chicken wings can only be frozen for as long as 6 months. The temperature in the freezer should be at or below -18 degrees C/ 0 degrees F.
- My husband bought a large package of pork loins and left it sitting out all night (approximately 15 hrs), is it safe to cook it and eat it.
- If raw pork is left at room temperature longer than two hours (1 hour in the summer) there is an increased risk that it may be contaminated with bacteria which can cause illness. So it would not be safe to cook and eat.
- Can we keep rice for a long time in the refrigerator?
- Once rice is cooked, it provides the right conditions for the growth of harmful bacteria. It should be refrigerated as soon as possible and used within three days.
- I purchased a 7-9kg turkey, fresh never frozen Wed, April 4, Easter dinner is on Monday April 9, should I freeze it or is it safe to leave in the fridge until Monday?
- A fresh turkey should be cooked within two to three days of purchase. But because you were planning to keep it only a couple of extra days, rather than freezing it, it would have been better to cook it, slice the meat from the bones and refrigerate it for reheating for Easter dinner.
- Hi, I bought a huge container of Kraft BBQ Sauce can it be frozen and if so for how long? Also, can it be eaten after the expiration date, is there a time limit after the expiry date? Thank you!
- Yes, it can be frozen but divide in small amounts so refreezing will not be necessary. There may be some changes in flavor and consistency. Barbecue sauce should not be used after the Best Before Date unless it is frozen before that date and used as directed above.
- I took ground turkey out of freezer on Monday morning and put into the refrigerator to thaw. Today is Friday..is it still okay to cook? I checked on it Monday evening and it was still frozen in the refrigerator(in the very back). I have heard 5 days is the max. Is that your opinion?
- Ground turkey is very perishable. Check it as it is defrosting and once defrosted, cook within two days.
- My friend invited us for turkey dinner and she says that she puts her stuffed turkey in the oven the night before and lets it cook all night at 200 F. Then in the morning increases the oven temperature to 300. Is this method safe for consumption of the turkey, stuffing and gravey?
Your friend's method may not be safe. According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Never slow-cook turkey. Set the oven no lower than 177°C (350°F) and use a food thermometer to check that the turkey reaches a minimum internal temperature of 85°C (185°F).
- The stuffing should reach a minimum internal temperature of 74°C (165°F).
- Is it right to put half eaten food back into the fridge ? i.e., say a half eaten lollypop back into the fridge or nibbling off the food and putting it back into the fridge.
- No, it may be not safe to put partially eaten food that are perishable back into the fridge. This food would have been possibly contaminated with harmful bacteria from the saliva while eating. And when the food is brought back to room temperature or warmed, the bacteria would increase the risk of food borne illness. So it's better to portion out only the food that will be eaten. Discard leftovers from your plate. As for the lolllypop, refrigeration would not be required since it contains high level of sugar.
- I bought chicken at the store and put it immediately in the fridge. The sell by date was not until a week later, but when I looked at the chicken 3 days later it was a dark color. Is it safe to eat?
- Unless chicken is packaged with a modified atmosphere in the package, it should be cooked or frozen within two to three days of purchase. The dark color that you noticed might be the normal changes taking place while keeping the chicken refrigerated. However if you have any doubt, throw it out.
- I thawed a turkey, wasn't able to cook it until 2 and a half days later. It has dark places on it, and some reddish lines. I am wondering if it would be safe to cook and eat.
- If the frozen turkey has been defrosted in the refrigerator or in a sink of cold water, changing the water every 45 minutes, it can be refrigerated two to three days before cooking. In your case, there should not be a problem. Make sure that you cook your turkey to a minimal internal temperature of 85 degrees C (185 degrees F) measured by using a food thermometer.
- I have been marinating jerk chicken breasts in the fridge for about a week, is it still safe to eat?
- The chicken may not be safe to eat. If cooked, it should be eaten within 3 to 4 days. If raw,it should be cooked within 3 days.
- Hi there, could you tell me if it is safe to eat frozen chicken breasts dated September 2006 in April 2007? My gut is telling me to throw it out. What do you think?
- Yes, your chicken breasts will be safe to eat. And for best quality, chicken pieces can be frozen for as long as six months. After that, there will be loss of quality.
- If i cook a whole chicken then slice it and put it into the freezer does the chicken need to be reheated after i have defrosted it to put into my daughters sandwiches for school. thanks gill
- As long as the chicken has been thoroughly cooked, to a temperature of 186ºF/86ºC and was sliced and put into the freezer right away, the meat will not need to be reheated. Make sure the slices are defrosted in the refrigerator.
- I bought a whole chicken and put it in the fridge for 4 days but the expiration date does not expire for 2 more days is it safe to eat?
- If the chicken is fresh, it can be refrigerated 2 to 3 days before cooking. If the chicken is cooked, it can be refrigerated 3 to 4 days. If the package has what we call in Canada a Best Before Date of six days from day of purchase, and the package is still sealed, the atmosphere in the package may have been altered to increase the shelf life. At this point it would be safe to eat.
- Is there another way to tell if chicken is cooked instead of checking the temperature? e.g like when juices run clear or chicken falls away from the bone?
-
Measuring with a food thermometer is the only reliable way to test that a chicken has been cooked to a temperature which will destroy harmful bacteria that may be present. A whole chicken should be cooked to 85C/185F, chicken pieces to 74 C/165F.
- I have some cooked chicken breasts that I put in screwtop plastic containers right after cooking into the refridgerator. It has been about 7-10 days (I realize this is past your suggested 4-5 days) but the chicken looks exactly the same and smells good, and a small taste seems fine. If I cook it very well in a sauce (bubbling, very high temperature) will it be alright to consume? Thank you for all your info.
-
Cooked chicken should be refrigerated and eaten or frozen within four to five days. After that there will be loss of quality and harmful bacteria could develop. If the chicken was beginning to spoil or is contaminated with harmful bacteria, you may not be able to see, smell or taste the changes.
- Is it true that we have to refrigerate meat three to four days before freezing it?
-
This is not true. Raw and cooked meat can be frozen right away after purchase or after cooking.
- If I freeze cooked chichen legs myself, do I have to thaw them before heating them? Thank you
-
It is better to thaw cooked chicken parts in the refrigerator before consuming them. If they were properly cooked to the safe temperature of 74C/165F recommended by the Chicken Farmers of Canada, you can eat them cold or warm once thawed in the refrigerator.
- Is it ok to eat cooked chicken in a curry after 2 days of being in the fridge?
- If the chicken has been properly cooked and the leftovers have been refrigerated within one hour after cooking (two hours in winter months), it will be safe to eat it after two days being in the refrigerator.
- On wednesday I have defrosted chicken in the sink in water for a few hours and I put it in the fridge seasoned it the on thursday I cooked some of it put the rest of the seasoned chicken in the fridge now it is monday my fridge is set on High it seems to almost freeze things is it still good to cook?
- That thawed raw chicken might not be safe to cook and eat. Refrigerated chicken should be consumed within two to three days after being thawed in the refrigerator. You have used water in the sink to thaw the chicken which is fine as long as you changed the water every 45 minutes and once thawed, the chicken did not stay at room temperature more than one hour (two hours in the winter time). On monday, it has been five days that chicken was thawed and sat in the refrigerator. It should not be consumed. You could have cooked everything at once and freeze portions that you did not use on Thursday.
- Can I freeze a chicken stock base soup after 3 days in the fridge?
- Yes, you can freeze your chicken stock base soup that has been in the refrigerator for 3 days. Once frozen, it should be used within four months. Thaw it in the refrigerator.
- What is the best method to use to thaw a chicken if we need it rapidly (except using a microwave.)
- To thaw a chicken quickly, submerge the chicken, sealed in its package or a plastic bag, in a sink of cold water and replace the water with more cold water every 45 minutes.
- I bought a 9 lb frozen turkey on Saturday. Put it in the refrigerator in it's original sealed package. It is now a week later, is still safe to cook and eat? When I opened up the package there was still some ice in the middle section of the turkey.
- A 9 lb. frozen turkey would normally take just over two days to thaw. Once thawed, it should be cooked within 48 hours which would bring you to Thursday in this case. It is possible that your refrigerator is colder than usual. If there were still presence of ice at the time that you were getting it ready to cook, it should be safe to eat.
- How long can I leave chicken noodle soup in the refrigerator?
- Leftover commercially made chicken noodle soup can be refrigerated for three to four days.
- My freezer was without power for 8 hours. Foods that were inside were soaked in the frozen drippings that came from raw meat and fish. All those foods were individually wrapped. Did they thaw and are they still good to eat?
- Quite a mess! Before the power failure, if your freezer was the correct temperature -18 degreesC/0 degrees F, and the freezer was at least half full, the food should not have defrosted for 24 hours. However some meat and fish did and the drippings would possibly contain harmful bacteria. So any food that came in contact with the drippings should be discarded. Be careful not to contaminate your kitchen while cleaning up.
Wash your freezer with hot soapy water and sanitize with mixture of 5 mL(1 tsp)unscented bleach with 750 mL
(3 cups) water.
- Is it harmful to repeatedly freeze and re-thaw chicken broth in the crock pot? I use it to cook a couple of breasts and then refreeze it and reuse it again. Thanks, Cindy
- This may not be a safe practice. Because the broth is frozen, it may take longer than two hours in the crock pot to reach a temperature high enough to destroy harmful bacteria which may be present. Then even though the broth is brought to a boil before serving, heat resistant toxins which are produced by some bacteria may not be destroyed.
- I purchased a 5 lb package of chicken at 1:00 p.m. and did not put it into the refrigerator until 9:30 p.m. the same day. Is it safe to eat?
- No, we recommend that you do not eat your chicken. Raw meats need to be refrigerated within 2 hours of purchase (or within 1 hour in warm weather) and kept out of the danger zone of 4ºC (40ºF) and 60ºC (170ºF) where bacteria thrive.
- I roasted a chicken and the meat beside the bones is black colored and so is the bones. Is there something wrong with these chickens? I have found that in alot of chickens purchased at stores. I raised my own chickens for a number of years and never had that happen. Is it because they never bled properly when they were butchered? Thank You
- Dark bones and dark meat around the bones mostly occurs in young broiler-fryer chickens. Because the bones have not hardened completely, pigment from the bone marrow seeps through the bones and into the area which surrounds the bones. This is a quality issue, not a food safety issue.
- I purchased a whole chicken last Thursday afternoon, put it in the fridge. It had not been cooked in 2 days so I put it in the freezer. I thawed the chicken Monday morning in the fridge. It was not completely unfrozen this afternoon so I soaked it in the sink in water for 45 minutes. I washed the chicken and it is marinating in buttermilk now. I am wondering if its still okay to eat. Any descriptions to indicate the chicken is spoiled would be appreciated.
- If the chicken is spoiled, you may notice an off smell. But if it is unsafe to eat because it is contaminated with harmful bacteria, you cannot see, smell or taste the bacteria. That's why it is important to handle poultry safely. Fresh poultry should be cooked or frozen within 2-3 days which you did. But once thawed it should have been cooked right away. Marinating does not not extend the shelf life of the chicken.
- I made a meatloaf out of ground turkey on Sunday night. I put the leftovers in a sealed plastic container in the refrigerator. Is it safe to eat the leftover turkey meatloaf on Wednesday night?
- Cooked meat such as meatloaf can be refrigerated 3 to 4 days. In your case, you can eat the leftover turkey meatloaf without any problems.
- I made chicken salad with canned chicken over a week ago. It has been in the fridge the whole time - is it safe to eat?
- Store prepared or homemade salads can be refrigerated for only 3 to 5 days.
- I baked some pre packaged marinated herb chicken, I forgot about it last night after I shut off the oven. It is now 11 hours later because it was cooked thoroughly can it still be eaten?
- Cooking thoroughly does not make your chicken safe to store at room temperature longer than two hours. It should be refrigerated as quickly as possible after cooking. Throw it out.
- Can you leave green beans and corn that have been opened and cooked out all night and reheat tomorrow?
- If cooked vegetables have been left at room temperature for longer than two hours, they should be discarded.
- How many days can you keep cooked meatballs in the refrigerator before they spoil?
- Cooked meatballs can be refrigerated for three to four days or frozen for two to three months.
- Can we marinate chicken, freeze it after, cook it and eat it without any danger?
- Yes, it is safe to freeze chicken in a marinade as soon as it is purchased, defrost it in the fridge, then cook it within two days.
- Can we cook a chicken that is just coming out of the freezer, still frozen?
- A chicken should be thawed before cooking to be sure that it is cooked to a safe temperature throughout. If cooked frozen, the outside of the chicken would be overcooked before the meat close to the bone was cooked to that safe temperature.
- I cooked a marinated chicken and left it on the counter to cool - it was on the counter for 5 hours - it probably would have taken 3 hours to cool down. Is it safe to eat?
- A cooked chicken should be cooled and refrigerated within two hours, removing the meat from the bones to speed the cooling. If left at room temperature to cool for 5 hours, it should be discarded because there is a risk that harmful bacteria may have developed.
- Pork thawed at room temperature for a more than a day is it still good?
- Pork should never be thawed at room temperature as that will increase the risk that harmful bacteria will develop. Discard the pork and next time thaw pork in the refrigerator.
- I put a sealed package of raw, frozen chicken breasts in my sink to thaw out and accidentally left it out overnight? Do I have to discard it even though the package was sealed and the breasts were frozen solid when I left them out?
- When perishable foods are thawed at room temperature, parts of the surface or interior of the food will have been exposed to temperatures above 4 ºC for an extended period of time. Bacteria multiply rapidly in what's called the Danger Zone, between 4ºC - 60ºC. Eating the thawed chicken would not be recommended. Always thaw foods in the refrigerator, or in the microwave for immediate use.
- I have a turkey breast that has been in the freezer about 2 years. Can I still cook it and eat it
- Turkey breasts should be frozen no longer than six months. After that, there will be loss of quality.
- I pulled a whole chicken out of the freezer on Friday night, had it thawing for about an hour and a half on the counter than put it in the fridge, it is now Sunday afternoon is it still safe to eat
- A whole chicken should be defrosted in the fridge or sealed in the package submerged in a sink of cold water, replacing the water with more cold water every 45 minutes. Once defrosted the chicken should be cooked within 48 hours. In your case, that hour and a half at room temperature should have not allowed the groth of pathogen bacteria.
- Can a turkey be eaten if cooked from the frozen state. I froze turkey breast and wasn't thinking and cooked it from the frozen state.
- Except for pre-stuffed turkeys and parts which state that they should be cooked from the frozen state, whole turkeys and parts should be defrosted before cooking. This assures that the turkey is cooked to a safe temperature throughout without overcooking. The safe temperature as measured with a food thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the breast, not touching the bone, is 85 degrees C (185 degrees F) for whole turkey and 74 degrees C (165 degrees F) for parts (breats, thighs, etc.).
- I purchased a package of chicken thighs. On the package, the best before date is 7 days from the day I bought it.(I bought it on sept 14 and it is best before sept 21) I was going to cook it tomorrow which means it will have been in the fridge for 5 days. Do you think it is still good?
- If the chicken thighs are packaged with modified atmosphere and the package has not been opened, they could have an extended shelf life of seven days as indicated by the Best Before Date on the package. With regular packaging, raw chicken should be cooked within two to three days.
- I took some boneless chicken out yesterday morning at 7:30 am to thaw, I asked my children to put it in the refrigerator and they forgot. The chicken did not go into the fridge until 7:10 this morning. Is it still safe to cook? It was still wrapped in the plastic.
- Your chicken should not be eaten. Highly perishable foods, such as raw chicken, need to be kept refrigerated as these foods can support rapid and harmful bacterial growth when left in the Danger Zone of 4ºC - 60ºC for longer than 2 hours (1 hour on a warm day).
- I bought a fresh turkey on Monday and will not be cooking it until this Saturday. It has been in the fridge all this time but I am still worried about how safe it is now to cook after all this time
- A refrigerated fresh turkey should be cooked within 2 to 3 days.
- I took a frozen 14 lb. turkey out of freezer and left it at room temp. for 11 hrs and then put in fridge for 16 hrs. is it still good. I left it in the packaging
- There are two recommended ways to safely thaw a turkey: in the refrigerator or submerged in a sink of cold water replacing water with more cold water every 45 minutes. When thawed at room temperature there is a risk the turkey wil be contaminated with harmful bacteria.
- We have a 7 lb. frozen turkey breast that has been in a 7 1/2 cubic foot chest freezer since 2004. Is it still safe to defrost and roast in a slow cooker? Is there a big loss of flavor if used? It is being used along with other main courses for adults, a 7 and 5 year old and a 13 month old. Thank you! Mrs. Lois J. Koenig
- Your turkey may not be safe to eat. Turkey should only be stored in a freezer for as long as one year. After that there will be a gradual loss of flavour. It should be defrosted in the refrigerator. Then it may not be too large to safely cook in a slow cooker.
- I cooked chicken on Wednesday night. Tonight is Sunday and we have other dinner plans that prevent us from eating the chicken tonight. Is it safe to freeze the cooked chicken at this point? And if it's safe to freeze and I use it later in a dish - how long can it be in the fridge before it goes bad (does the 3-4 day clock restart?)?
- Cooked poultry has a total refrigerated storage time of 3 - 4 days. If the chicken were to be frozen, you would need to eat it immediately upon thawing as freezing does not extend the recommended storage time of 3 - 4 days.
- How long can you keep store sealed chicken pieces in the refrigerator?
- Raw pieces may be stored for 2 - 3 days, cooked chicken may be stored for 3 - 4 days.
- Can I cook a chicken that has been in the freezer for 10 months?
- Whole chickens and turkeys may be stored in your freezer for up to 12 months. The safest way to thaw the chicken prior to use is in your refrigerator.
- I bought uncooked chicken thighs four days before the "best used by date". I opened the package the next day and the meat smelled bad. Is it safe to eat?
- The bad smell you detected is an indicator that the chicken has begun to spoil. Do not eat the chicken. Although there are several days to go before the "use by" date, this date applies only when the food has been handled correctly and stored under appropriate conditions.
- Hi! I have some questions related to cooking chicken directly from its frozen state. A butcher friend told me to never cook a frozen chicken because of the bacteria and there I have found recipes calling for cooking frozen chicken breasts??? And now they are frozen turkeys available on the market where the wrapper indicates to put them directly from the freezer to the oven. I am confused. Can you tell me what should be done? Thank you!
- The safest way to cook meat, fish and poultry is to thaw the product first (refrigerator is best, then either under cool running water or in the microwave if you plan to cook it immediately). Cooking meat from a frozen state is dangerous because the meat may appear cooked on the outside, but the inside may still be frozen or undercooked and the internal temperature is in "the danger zone". Use a meat thermometer to ensure doneness.
- Prepared homemade beef stew for the crockpot 10am. At 5pm noticed the crock pot was not plugged in. Turned it on high and my husband says it will be fine, although we will have it for Sunday dinner instead of Saturday's. Is this okay?
- Perishable foods should not be left at room temperature longer than 2 hours (or 1 hour during the summer). Illness causing bacteria thrive in the temperature Danger Zone of 4ºC (40ºF) and 60ºC (140ºF). Because the meat is not cooked (or may only be slightly cooked from browning prior to adding remaining ingredients in crockpot), bacteria in the raw meat juices are plentiful and multiply rapidly when left for an extended period of time and in a moist, warm environment. Discard the stew!
- I was wondering if I can stuff a fresh chicken then freeze it and cook it from a frozen state?
- Do not stuff the bird prior to freezing. You can prepare the stuffing and freeze seperately. The safest way to cook the chicken is to thaw it in the refrigerator prior to cooking.
- I have just purchased a crockpot. I would like to know what would be the safest way to cook chicken in it as the cooking is done at low temperature. I am worrying a little bit.
- If you follow the directions/recipes provided by the manufacturer of your crockpot, chicken can be safely cooked at a low temperature. Double check that the cooked chicken has reached a safe temperature by measuring with an instant read food thermometer inserted not touching a bone. It should be 185 degrees F/85 C for a whole chicken and 165 F/ 74 C for chicken pieces.
- I would like to know why does lunch meat spoil faster on counter than it does in the fridge?
- Lunch meat spoils faster on the counter than in the fridge because room temperature falls within the range of temperatures where spoilage and harmful bacteria multiply fastest.
- Our refrigerator door was left open for 4hrs. During that time, the air temp inside the refrigerator went from 38 to 58 degrees. We were storing cooked paella, lobster, pork chops, milk, yogurt, packaged cheese, homemade chicken stock. Is any food inside safe to eat? Can i reboil anything to make it safe? thanks!
- Unfortunately, the foods you mention are all perishable and should be thrown out because they were left out longer than 2 hours at unrefrigerated temperatures. Reheating/boiling may not destroy all bacteria or toxins produced during that time. If the packaged cheese is processed cheese or hard cheese it would be safe to eat.
- I thawed a 7 lb. turkey breast in the refrigerator but don't need to cook it yet, so it has been thawing in the refrigerator for 6 days. Is is still safe to cook it?
- It takes about 24 hours to thaw 4 lbs. of turkey, so your turkey should have thawed in 2 days. Thawed turkey should be cooked within 2 - 3 days. Check for signs or deterioration (off smell, slimy, discoloration). If you see any of these signs or you are in doubt, throw it out!
- I cooked a turkey on Sunday night, refridgerated the leftover meat and made a casserole with it last night (Thursday). Can we safely reheat the cassrole tonight (Friday)?
- Leftover cooked turkey may be refrigerated for up to 3 - 4 days. This time includes any dishes the leftover cooked turkey may have been used in.
- How long can you keep turkey burgers in the freezer
- Because turkey burgers are made with ground turkey, they may be stored in the freezer for only 2 to 3 months.
- At a luncheon, shredded turkey in gravy was served. Toward the end of the luncheon, the creamed turkey, which was warming in a roaster, started bubbling and became frothy. An odor could be smelled. What caused this and was it good to eat. Nobody got sick but the remainder was thrown away. What caused the frothy bubbling which continued when it was not even being heated. It looked almost like a witch's brew bubbling.
- Without seeing the turkey in gravy it is difficult to answer your question. But the reaction you described can be caused if the turkey or gravy were cooled too slowly when they were originally prepared causing the food to sour and become hazardous.
- I took out a chicken last night and left it out to defrost, which it has done. Can I now put it in the fridge (not freezer) until tomorrow when I want to cook it?
- If your chicken has been thawed on the counter at room temperature, it should be discarded not cooked. The safe ways to thaw chicken are in the refrigerator or submerged in a sink of cold water replacing the water with more cold water every 45 minutes or in the microwave if cooked as soon as it is thawed.
- I am buying a stuffed deboned turkey for christmas dinner. If it is stuffed on christmas eve is it safe to wait to cook it christmas day? Or should I cook it the same day it is stuffed? thank you
Stuffing should be prepared and stuffed into the turkey immediately before it's placed in the oven for cooking. If preparing the stuffing ahead of time, wet and dry ingredients should be refrigerated separately and combined right before stuffing the turkey. Stuff the turkey loosely, about 3/4 cup stuffing per pound of turkey. Stuffing needs room to expand during cooking, so do not overstuff.
Cooked inside or outside the bird, all stuffing and dressing recipes must be cooked to a minimum temperature of 74 ºC or 165 ºF.
- We bought some deep fried chicken tenders on our way home from the holiday at a local deli. When I took a bite, I noticed there was something green in the chicken. I immediately spit out what was in my mouth, but could not figure out what was making the inside of the chicken meat green. Any ideas? I contacted the deli and they apologized, but had no idea either why the chicken was green. We did check one more piece and didn't find anything green, but this has us stumped.
- Any food concerns related to purchases from a commercial food establishment should be directed to your local Public Health Office.
- I made a beautiful shepards pie and used a cup of organic chicken broth that expired 16 days ago. The broth was unopened. Must I throw it in the trash?
- Foods with a best before date should be used within the suggested time frame for quality reasons. Throw any remaining broth away.
- I bought a pack of boneless skiness chicken thighs, and opened the package and cooked some, resealing the rest and putting them back in the fridge, is this safe?
- Yes, provided you cook the remaining thighs before the "use by" date expires or within 2 days of purchase. If you can't, freeze the remaining portions and use within 6 months.
- I bought a frozen butterball turkey last Xmas and left it at the bottom of my freezer. Is it safe to cook it. Do I have to take extra care when thawing and cooking it as opposed to a frozen turkey which I buy this year
- Yes, it is still safe to eat. Frozen whole chicken and turkey may be stored in your freezer for 1 year. The safest way to thaw frozen meat and poultry is in your refrigerator. Then cook the turkey until it reaches an internal temperature of 85 degrees C (185 degrees F) in its thickest part, i.e. by inserting a food thermometer in the breast pointing it toward the drumstick but position parallel to the carcass of the bird.
- I left a bowl of chicken soup out for more than 7 hours. After which I ingested it. Now I feel nauseated I don't know if it was from the soup. Should I be worried??
- That chicken soup should have been discarded after being left at room temperature for longer than two hours because harmful bacteria may have developed and cause food poisoning. You have all the reasons to be worried. It may or may not have caused your nausea.
- Hi! The Friday before, I purchased a 10 pound turkey. I put it in the refrigerator in the basement. The following Friday, While opening the refrigerator door, I noticed that I forgot all about it. I cooked it anyway but I would like to know if there is any risk to eat it. Thanks!
- There may be a risk that the turkey is contaminated with harmful bacteria that could have multiplied during that week in the refrigerator. If the turkey was fresh (not frozen) it should have been cooked with two to three days. If the turkey was frozen and defrosted in the refrigerator, it should be cooked within two days of being defrosted.
- My husband left the fridge door open about 6 inches over night, probably from midnight until 6Am. Is all the food bad now? We had chicken and roast beef and eggs that were near to the door and milk. thanks
- Perishable foods that have been stored or left at temperature above 4 degrees C (40 degrees F) for more than two hours should be thrown out. It is more likely that in 6 hours your refrigerator with the opened door reached a temperature superior of what it is recommended above for period longer than 2 hours. At this point, eggs, milk, chicken and roast beef should be thrown out. Bacterial growth slowed down at 4 degrees C (40 degrees F) or less, will start multiplying in these foods once the temperature climbs above 4 degrees C (40 degrees F) Those bacteria will ruin the product and some harmul one could cause food poisoning.
- If a turkey has a fresh butterball turkey has a best before date,does the 2-3 daysfor cooking it still apply?
- Are you sure you meant to write "2 -3 days for cooking"? Fresh turkey should be cooked within 1 - 2 days of purchase or frozen immediately.
- I bought a frozen turkey, put it in the top small freezer compartment of my fridge . How long can I safely leave it for,. I usually try and use meat from there within a week. Thanks
- A freezer should be set to -18º C or lower. A frozen turkey will keep for 2 - 3 months.
- 4 days before Xmas we are going to smoke our turkey outside. Can we refreeze the turkey bone and all and thaw in 4 days and heat in the oven to serve safely? Or...is it safer to debone right after smoking and freeze the meat then? My husband says you can keep smoked meat for 10 days in the fridge - is this safely true? He does not want to freeze it, just refrigerate after smoking it. Please let me know as we are smoking it tomorrow. Thanks!
- It is strongy recommended to debone the turkey once cooked or smoked as long as it has been cooked at the proper internal temperature. Health Canada recommends to cook it at 85 degrees C (185 degrees F). Once cooked or smoked, your turkey would keep in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Ten days might be too long and you would need to freeze the meat if you want to keep all that time.
- I purchased a fresh turkey today coming directly from the slaughterhouse. Can I cook it in five days or should I freeze it for one day and thaw it after?
- Keeping a fresh turkey in the refrigerator for five days might be too long as the recommendation is two to three days in the refrigerator. You could do two things. Put it in the freezer until a day or two before cooking so it will have time to thaw in the refrigerator or cook it from fresh by Christmas, debone it and refrigerate the cooked meat for 3 to 4 days or freeze that meat at the end of that 4 day period if not used.
- How long can I keep a frozen stuffed turkey in the freezer?
- A frozen stuffed turkey can be kept in the freezer for one year.
- You say that we must thaw a turkey before cooking it. Why are Excelsior and Butterball offer frozen turkeys that go to the oven without thawing them? Couldn't we do the same thing with other name brands of turkey?
- Turkeys which are labeled to cook from the frozen state, are usually smaller in size and have been prepared in a government inspected sanitized production facility following the strict specifications of the producer. They must be roasted following the directions on the label.
Other frozen turkeys which should be thawed before roasting vary in size and usually have a bag of giblets and neck inserted in the cavity which should be removed before roasting.
- I cooked a 13 pound turkey and the temp read 190 F, and it looked done. I sliced some of the turkey breast, and put the rest in the refrigerator. The next day I was carving the darker meat and bones to use for soup, and noticed it was NOT cooked through. There were some dark pink areas, and the joints of the thigh were almost red. Is it safe to complete cooking the next day? How about making soup? Thanks!
- The color of the meat is not an indication of doneness. But dark meat does take longer to cook than white meat So if you measured the temperature as 190 F in the inner part of the thigh, not touching the bone, the turkey would be cooked to a safe temperature. The dark meat would be safe to use in soup and casseroles.
- Hi! I just found out that my freezer was unplugged and everything that was in thawed. I plug the freezer back. What are the risks for the meat and vegetable that were inside?
- It depends! How long the freezer has been unplugged. Usually, the food in a freezer will remain frozen for 24 hours. After that the safety of the food will depend on the temperature of the freezer. If the temperature remains at or below 4 degrees C/40 degrees F or if there are still ice crystals in the food, it will be safe to refreeze or cook. There will be loss of quality in the vegetables.
- My mother bought a frozen, pre-stuffed turkey. she didn't notice it was meant to be cooked from frozen because of all the ice on the packaging, and thawed it. is it safe to cook it from it's thawed state?
- If a pre-stuffed turkey has been thawed rather than cooked from the frozen state as directed on the label, discard the stuffing and be sure that the turkey is cooked to a safe internal temperature. In Canada that temperature should be 185F (85 C) as measured with a food thermometer inserted in the inner thigh not
touching the bone.
- Hello, I am on the sacred heart diet. One of the ingredients is chicken broth. I left the chicken broth out all night in the pot after being boiled. Is it safe to eat?
- Your chicken broth may not be safe to eat. After boiling, chicken broth should be cooled and refrigerated as quickly as possible to prevent the development of harmful bacteria. Do not eat it.
- How long can I keep cooked pork in the refrigerator?
- Refrigerated cooked pork should be eaten or frozen within four days.
- CAN I RE - FREEZE UNCOOKED BROCOLLI THAT WAS ACCIDENTLY THAWED OUT
- They should be fine if thawed properly. Do not refreeze again, as you may get water loss and the spears will be tough. You should blanch the spears before freezing and place in air-tight freezer containers.
- i purchased a frozen butterball boneless turkey breast roast (3lbs). I want to cook it in my crock pot.. is it ok to go from frozen to cook or should i thaw it first in the refrigerator for 1 1/2 - 2 days?
- Because crockpots cook at a relatively low temperature, it is not recommended to cook roasts or whole poultry in a crockpot as these meats can sit in the bacterial Danger Zone of 4ºC - 40ºC for too long before reaching a safe cooking temperature. When preparing meat or poultry for the crockpot, be sure they are completely thawed (again, to ensure a safe cooking temperature is reached in a reasonable amount of time). Cut meat or poultry into even pieces to ensure thorough cooking, and fill crockpot only 1/2 to 2/3 full.
- Cooked chicken pieces and vegetables are put into a large freezer container. Only need a small ammount for baby. Can I defrost it then put remaining pot back in freezer or do i have to use it all up? Its for my 6 month baby.
- Thawing and refreezing foods can put them at risk for bacterial contamination as the frozen foods are brought to temperatures within the bacterial Danger Zone of 4ºC - 60ºC during the thawing process. It is within this temperature Danger Zone that any microorganisms already present in the food will thrive and multiply. Babies are especially vulnerable to bacterial contamination and all food fed to them needs to be handled in the safest manner possible.
- I understand thawed meat and poultry cannot be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours, but how should I marinate the meat for hours other than putting it in the fridge?
- The safest way to marinate meats and poultry for longer than 2 hours is in the refrigerator. If this is not possible, consider using a rub and then cooking.
- I baked chicken on Thursday night and would like to eat it on Monday is it still safe?
- Cooked chicken will keep for up to 4 days in the refrigerator, so it is safe to eat. Otherwise, freeze it until you are ready to eat it.
How long should I boil frozen chicken breast before it is cooked?
- The breast should reach an internal temperature of 77º C (170º F). The time it takes to reach this temperature will depend on the size and thickness of the meat. Use a food thermometer.
- I have some cooked (roasted) chicken. Is it safe to eat it COLD on a sandwich if it has been refrigerated for 3 to 4 days? Does it need to be re-heated first?
- Cooked chicken can be safely refrigerated for 3 to 4 days. It does not require reheating before eating.
- Hi, I read that chicken can be kept up to 4 days (cooked) in the fridge, and then used to make broth. My question is if after 4 days I wanted to make a chicken soup, how long would the soup be good for? Thanks
- A soup made with fresh chicken should be refrigerated and eaten or frozen within 2 to 3 days. But because cooked chicken should only be refrigerated as long as 4 days, soup made with cooked chicken that is 4 days old should be eaten right away.
- I left my turkey ham in the car last night when I when shopping yesterday. The temperature was in the 30's overnight. Is it still safe to eat the turkey ham or should I throw it away
- You can not be sure what the temperature inside your car was for that period of time. Perishable foods that reach the danger zone (4 C to 40 C) for longer than 2 hours should be throw out.
I bought chicken and the package said: Packed on February 19, eat by February 25. I froze it on February 25. Finally I thawed out it on February 26 and cooked it on February 28. Was it still good?? Thank you very much!
- Chicken should be cooked within 2 days of purchase or before the best before date. If you can not cook it within that time, freeze immediately. In your case that chicken should be good.
- i have boneless chicken breast with best before date march 19,it is now march 22. is it safe to consume? it smells fine.
- Raw chicken should be cooked and eaten or frozen on or before the Best Before Date. It may not be safe to eat.
- i cooked thai green chicken curry and refrigeratored it half an hour after i consumed however at 2am i woke with the munchies and realised the frige was running low.... A pumkin was blocking the air flow. Will i be in danger? Im worried and should i toss the remaining curry?
- Your chicken curry could be at risk if the temperature in the refrigerator was above 4ºC (40ºF) due to the lack of air flow. If your refrigerator was above this temperature, the chicken curry may have sat in the temperature Danger Zone of 4ºC (40ºF) - 60ºC (140ºF) for longer than 2 hours, and thus pose a food safety risk. In this case, when in doubt, throw it out!
- I found a crockpot recipe (which included frozen chicken breasts). The instructions said to cook it on high for 4-5 hours. I accidentally set it on LOW for 4.5 hours. It automatically switched to the "warm" setting after it finished it's cycle, but it's been on "warm" for almost 6 hours. If I turn it up to "hot" and then eat it, will it be ok? The internal temp isn't ok (maybe it has cooled off), but I haven't cut it to see if it's pink.
- To cook food safely, the temperature in a crock pot has to quickly heat the food to a safe temperature which is why your recipe should have been cooked on high. Also, for this reason, it is generally recommended that frozen raw chicken not be cooked in a crockpot. There is a risk that harmful bacteria may have developed in your chicken and some bacteria produce heat resistant toxins which cooking on high will not destroy.
- I browned some chicken breasts last night and then immediately put in the refrigerator overnight to cook chicken parmesan this morning. Is it o.k. to use the chicken even though it was not totally cooked through when it was browned?
- It would have been better if the breasts were entirely cooked the first time. By delaying the cooking process and by exposing the breasts to ideal temperatures for bacterial growth during browning, it adds some extra manipulations where there is always a risks of allowing harmful bacteria to growth and cause food poisoning.
- How many times can you reheat homemade chicken noodle soup?
- Reheating homemade chicken soup several times could become dangerous as bacteria might find occasions to contaminate the soup between sessions. You should split the soup in individual portion to avoid reheating the whole pot all the time.
- How long can ground turkey be safely frozen before being discarded? Thank you!
- Gounded turkey should keep frozen for 3 months.
- We had a small turkey two day's ago for dinner. I put it in the fridge as soon as we were through but I didn't pull it off the bone. Is it safe to re-heat for dinner tonight?
- The turkey would be safe to re-heat and consume if it has been cooked properly in the first place. It is always easier to debone a poultry when the meat is warm as it detachs itself easily and teh meat cools down much fater once put in the refrigerator.
- My husband bought a cooked chicken from the supermarket and left it whole in the bag it was purchased in, saying this is the best way to store it to keep it fresh longer. Is this correct?
- It depends! If the chicken has been consumed or refrigerated within two hours of its purchase, the bag would be fine. But if the chicken was kept in the bag at room temperature for more than two hours, then you are exposing yourself to food poisoning. Properly cooked chicken are free of harmful bacteria but the cooking process does not destroy spores that would develop once the conditions are favourable. Those newly developed bacteria could produce toxin that can make you sick.
- I TOOK OUT SOME CHICKEN BREAST OUT LAST WED AND IT IS NOW MONDAY CAN I STILL COOK IT IF IT HAS BE REFRIGERATED?
- Once thawed, chicken breasts should be cooked withinthe next two to three days.
- I made a chicken stock out of a carcass that was bought from a supermarket as a hot rotissere chicken. It was hot when we bought it but cooled down before we ate it, I then boiled up the carcass and froze the strained stock. I have now added the stock to a chicken casserole. I reheated the stock in the microwave til hot and then added it to the casserole. Can I refreeze the chicken casserole in small pureed portions? It is for home made baby food so I want to be extra sure its ok. thanks
- First of all, you have to consider the fact that babies and infants are more susceptible to food poisoning. The safety of the food that you prepared needs to be evaluated here. When you said that the chicken was originally consumed cold, how long did it stayed at room temperature to cool down? If the cooked chicken has been left at room temperature for more than two hours, there is a potential for bacterial growth and toxin production putting the health of the baby at risk. Even if you boiled the carcass, any toxins that could have been produced will not be destroyed by heat. Once the carcass has been boiled, the broth would need to be refrigerated or frozen without delays. If thawed adequately in the microwave and used promptly in the chicken casserole, then it could be frozen safely without any problem.
- is it safe to store chicken in it's original store packaging or should I take it out and store it in a plastic baggie? I heard the styrofoam is not good to store it in.
- If you store your chicken in the freezer, it is recommended to wrap it well so it will not dry out or suffer from frzzfer burns. Otherwise, there sould not be any problem to store it in the refrigerator for a short period of time (3 to 4 days) before cooking it.
- I cooked a chicken Thai curry last night and forgot to refigerate what was not eaten. It was left on the counter top for 21 hours. It has been a very cool day. Am I able to eat the balance of the curry?
- If you eat those leftovers, your exposing yourself to food poisoning because the food was left at room temperature much longer than the 2 hours time recommended. The dish should have been refrgerated right away. Any heat resistant forms of bacteria that could be present in the dish would multiply and produce toxins that could make you sick. If I was you, I would throw it out.
- Hi there,, I like the pre-seasoned frozen chicken wings that are sold at most grocery stores. My question is...Is it safe to cook them if they have thawed in fridge within your 2-3 day guideline,or does pre-seasoned frozen chicken go by different rules/standards?Basically should it always be cooked from frozen state,or is it ok to cook them thawed? Thanx ;D
- Either or; that will be up to you. Because they are pre-seasoned, it doesn't change the rules/standards. As long as they are thawed in the refrigerator if you choose to do so; there should not be any problem. They might just take less time to cook comparing to starting them while frozen. As the rules say, once thawed, you have 2 to 3 days to cook them.
- I am cooking some sour cream chicken, the recipe says to refrigerate the chicken overnight and then cook them. COuld I store them in the fridge for about 2 hours and then cook them instead?
- You could most likely do that but it might have an incidence on the taste of the chicken. It seems that the recipe calls for marinating the chicken overnight but if you want to do it after two hours in the refrigerator, you could.
- Hi! I had a power shortage for two hours. What are the risks for the foods in the freezer?
- If the door of the freezer was kept close at all time during the power outage, there is no risk for the food in it. A freezer without power should be able to keep food frozen for at least 24 hours.
- Hi! I would like to know how long can I keep chicken like breaded nuggets in the freezer? I pull them out of their original packaging and put them in a plastic container. Thank you!
- Chicken like breaded nuggets will keep in the refrigerator for up to six months.
- I defrosted some turkey cutlets but did not cook them all. They had been seasoned and marinated. Is it safe to refreeze the ones we didn't use? They had been kept in the refrigerator the whole time.
- It is not recommended to refreeze those unused cutlets once completely thawed unless you cook them first. After properly cooking them, you will be able to freeze them.
- Can i eat cooked chicken left in plastic container out overnight on my work desk?
- No! Do not eat that chicken. Even cooked, it could make you sick. Throw it out!
- i left my stuffing in the chicken over night in the refrigerator. Will I get sick if I eat it now the day after?
- It is recommended to remove the stuffing out of the chicken after cooking it all so it would cool down much faster in the refrigerator once out of the bird. It is the same recommendation to remove the bones before putting the meat in the refrigerator. It not to say that you will get sick but the risk is there especially of the bird has not been properly cooked and the refrigeration took longer than it should have.
- Can we cooked a frozen chicken?
- You can cook a frozen chicken but the time will be much longer and you could run the risk of ending with an undercooked chicken. You should measure the temperature in the thickest part of the chicken and make sure that it will reach 85 degrees C (185 degrees F).
- After cooking a stuffed chicken and letting it cool so that it can be handled, can I put it directly into a freezer? (My freezer is empty right now) Your instructions seem to always require carving and storing separately.
- It is recommended to remove the stuffing and freeze it separately. It is best to remove the meat from the carcass while it is still warm and the work is much easier and the meat would freeze much faster. You could still freeze the whole cooked chicken without the stuffing though but one thawed in the refrigerator you will have to warm it up at a safe internal temperature before consuming it.
- tlaking about hot dog wieners, a week in the refrigerator; are they still good without worrying about them?
- If the package has been opened the wieners will keep in hte refrigerator for 7 days. If the package has not been opened, the hot dog wieners will keep for 2 weeks under the same conditions.
- I took frozen pork ribs from the freezer in the afternoon, left them in a ziploc overnight in the sink by accident. Can I still cook them?
- Absolutely not! The pork ribs spent too much time at room temperature (over two hours). Bacteria would have grown out of control and could produce toxins that cannot be destroyed by cooking temperature na can make you sick. It is not recommended to thaw food at room temperature. It should be done in the refrigerator at all time. This way, the meat stays safe and it avoid the fact that we may forget about them as it is the case here. You will have to throw the meat out.
- I have a 15 lbs. Butterball turkey that has been thawed since yesterday. I do not have a meat thermometer. At what temperature should I cook it ans for how long? Thank you!
- Your turkey shoud reach an internal temperature of 85 degrees C (185 degrees F). If your turkey is stuffed or not, the cooking time will be related to its weight. To cobtain a table of cooking time versus the weight of the turkey. consult the following website:
http://www.turkeyfordinner.ca/english/cookingTimes.html
- Once cooked a roast chicken how long can it cool on a bench before put in fridge? What are the exact temperature's of the haccp danger zones for storage and meat products left in danger zones?
- It is best to put your roast chicken in the refrigerator as soon as possible after cooking. If it is really hot, let is sit for 30 minutes maximum and put it in the refrigerator. If you want to remove the bones, do it while it is still warm. The meat will detach much better while it is still warm. You will have to do that in less than 2 hours after cooking. The danger zone is the zone range between 4 degrees C (40 degrees F) and 60 degrees C (140 degrees F). Food have to be kept outside of that range to remain safe. Maximum time in the danger zone is two hours but people have tendency to forget about the food left at room temperature.
- I made a casserole and accidentally used chicken stock in it that had been in the fridge for longer than a few days. If I cook and consume the casserole, will this be dangerous to my health?
- You should not have any health problem by using this chicken stock as long as it has not benn teperature abuse and store in the refrigerator for exagerated storage time. If you have any doubt, do not consume the food.
- Hi! I buy chicken breasts that have been brined. The internal temperature was 80 degrees Celcius. When I cut the breast, it was pink inside. Would that be a reaction of the salt and the heat? Thank you!
- At that température (80 degrees C / 176 degrees F) your chicken breasts are cooked safely (74 degres C/ 165 degrees F). the pink aoppearance could be related to different reasons and the brine may have someting to do with it too.
- Can you freeze chicken salad?
- Chicken salad will not freeze well and the will be true too if it contains mayonnaise or a salad dressing.
- How long can raw chicken be refrigerated before it goes bad?
- Raw chicken can be kept in hte refrigerator for two days.
- I made some chicken noodle soup, with some chicken I had left over from the weekend, can I reheat it again as I have made to much ?
- Yes, you can reheat the soup to consume it for another meal. As long as you refrigerated the soup between meals it should be fine. One thing you could do is to portion the soup so you could only heat up what you need. You could always freeze portions that you don't think you will use in three to four days.
- I baked chicken breasts and put it in the freezer. Yesterday I took it out and let it thaw in the refrigerator. Today I cut them up and put it in a food processor(for my toddler). I put the processed chicken in small plastic containers and put them in the freezer. Is this safe?
- The way that you handle the cooked chicken would make it safe to eat. However, repeating freezing and thawing could lead to poor quality of the food and possible health risks may develop.
- I cooked two chicken breasts and I forgot them on the counter all nght long. If I put them back in the oven, would I be able to kill the bacteria?
- It is possible that bacteria might be destroyed but toxins that they would have produced can make you very sick. Throw them away. They have spent too much time as room temperature and they can make you very sick.
- If I buy a turkey directly form the farm, how long can i keep it in the refrigerator without freezing it before cooking it?
- If the turkey has been properly handled, it will keep in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days before you will have to cook it.
- If I buy a turkey directly form the farm, how long can i keep it in the refrigerator without freezing it before cooking it?
- If the turkey has been properly handled, it will keep in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days before you will have to cook it.
- my husband bought a frozen pre-stuffed butterball turkey 24hours ago. I told him to put it in the FREEZER but he put it in the FRIDGE. I've started cooking the turkey but am worried if it is safe. The turkey is still frozen but the outside part of the turkey is not rock hard and some stuffing on the outside is thawed. Is it safe to eat? please answer asap?
- Your turkey should be safe to eat as long that it has been in the refrigerator at all time and that it is cooked at a proper internal temperature. Turkey can be cooked frozen although it is not a recommended practice bcause it will take longer to cook and you have to make sure that it is fully cooked.
- Hi! I cooked a turkey and the neck was inside. I could not get the neck out of the cavity by I removed the bag with the other organs. Is there any danger of eating the turkey with the neck inside duriong cooking? Thank you!
- If the turkey was properly cooked, there will be no danger of eating it even if the neck was inside.
- my friend's freezer i accidentally unplugged it even though i PROMISED MYSELF i wouldn't. it contained a slaughtered turkey carcass and a lollipop. i reboiled everything but accidentally left it on the stove for 2 days should i tell them? the lollipop is for a baby.
- Yes, it is your duty to tell them after throwing everything in the garbage. If you have to replace everything so be it but do not let them the risk of getting violently ill.