Can I Cook Chicken Two Weeks After The Sell By Date?

HOME FOOD & DRINK Can I Cook Chicken Two Weeks After the Sell by Date? By: Tom Ryan More Articles

1. Can I Cook Chicken That's Been Thawed in the Refrigerator for Three Days?
2. How to Make Crock-pot Chicken
3. Can I Cook a Chicken Five Days After Defrosting It?
4. How to Defrost a Chicken in a Refrigerator
5. How to Cook Mojo Chicken

Creatas/Creatas/Getty Images

While the "sell-by" date on a package of raw chicken is primarily for the retailer's benefit, you can use it to predict when the chicken is no longer safe to eat. This is because the chicken is at its best quality before that date, and quickly loses its quality every day after, as bacteria starts to grow. If the chicken is past its sell-by date by two weeks or more, it is too old to use.

The Chicken Timeline

Stores use the chicken's sell-by date so they know when to pull it from the refrigerators, and you can use it to know when to throw it out. If you refrigerate your chicken, you can still safely cook and eat it within two of the sell-by date. If you plan on keeping it for longer, freeze it as soon as possible. When you freeze raw chicken, it can last nine months. To check for signs of spoilage in refrigerated chicken that has passed its sell-by date, open the package. Chicken starting to spoil has a rancid, foul smell and a slimy film developing on its surface. If you detect either of these signs, throw it away. Note that chicken can be unsafe to eat but have no smell or change in texture. If it is more than two days past its sell-by date, throw it out.

Related Articles

Can I Cook Chicken That's Been Thawed ...

How to Make Crock-pot Chicken

Can I Cook a Chicken Five Days After ...

How to Defrost a Chicken in a ...

How to Cook Mojo Chicken

How Long Is Cooked Chicken Good?

Is it Safe to Cook Chicken 2 Days After ...

How Long Can I Keep Frozen Whole ...

If Chicken Smells Bad Can You Still ...

What Happens to Boneless Chicken if I ...

How to Marinate Roast Chicken

If Chicken Doesn't Smell Bad, Can You ...

How to Cook a Flat Chicken

How to Slow Cook Chicken With Tomatoes ...

How to Cook Crispy Jerk Chicken in the ...

How to Bake Boneless Chicken to Stay ...

What Does Spoiled Meat Smell Like When ...

How Long Can Cooked Chicken Be ...

Does Chicken Have to Be Completely ...

How Do You Tuck the Wings to Roast a ...

References

• WebMD: Do Food Expiration Dates Really Matter?
• U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service: Chicken from Farm to Table

Writer Bio

Tom Ryan is a freelance writer, editor and English tutor. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English writing, and has also worked as an arts and entertainment reporter with "The Pitt News" and a public relations and advertising copywriter with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

Photo Credits

Creatas/Creatas/Getty Images