How long can you leave cooked chicken in the fridge and covered before it has to be chucked out? Tried a google search but came up with nothing

I wouldn't leave it for any longer than two days. But that's just me being cautious, not sure what others would do.:)

I've been known to leave things up to a week, but usually that's inside a sealed container in which it has been since it was cooked and hot and without it being touched again until it's being used (I usually cook 2 chickens in an Arcoflam casserole dish which just goes straight into the fridge when I've taken one out to use).

If it had been cooked and transferred between dishes and in contact with other surfaces, tools, knives or hands which could have not been perfectly clean, then I'd probably only give it a couple of days- or if I thought it was going to be longer than that then I'd freeze it until it was needed.

3 days, according to environmental health.

you would probably get away with four or five days though.

It had been in there since xmas day night, so was at 3 days so I chucked it just incase :thumbsup:

It had been in there since xmas day night, so was at 3 days so I chucked it just incase :thumbsup:


I think thats probably wise hun

3 days is the max, iv done the courses for years. but iv never saved it more than 2 give it to the cat on 3rd day.

general rule of thumb here is two days - three at a push - four is a dog day as is five - then the bin gets it

I always tend to go on touch, sight and smell with food, if it looks, feels and smells ok then I eat it! andhave never had a problem. However that's my chopice and I wouldn't necessarily recommend that to others.

I do feel that we are too cautious though. I know my mum grew up without a fridge and I'm sure theuir Sunday dinner left overs lived in the Pantry for at least 3 days!

I always tend to go on touch, sight and smell with food, if it looks, feels and smells ok then I eat it! andhave never had a problem. However that's my chopice and I wouldn't necessarily recommend that to others.

I do feel that we are too cautious though. I know my mum grew up without a fridge and I'm sure theuir Sunday dinner left overs lived in the Pantry for at least 3 days!

Most of us do go touch, sight, and smell, but the bacteria that is gonna get ya does not have any of these 'tell's', so you are risking it.
It is sensible to to keep cooked food stored safely, properly wrapped and below 4 degrees for no longer than 3 days.
You can of course freeze many cooked foods safely for a lot longer.

PS. is your chopice just a mistype, or is my kitchen education lacking somewhat?