Store raw chicken in a refrigerator set to 40 degrees F or below. Be sure to refrigerate chicken within 2 hours of purchase to prevent bacterial growth. Amidor advises storing raw chicken in a plastic bag or container in the lower part of the refrigerator so it doesn't risk dripping onto other items.
In most cases, you can keep raw chicken in the fridge for one to two days at most. 1 The “best if used by” date printed on the package is for quality assurance purposes, so you should only eat raw chicken within a day or two, even if its printed expiration date hasn't passed yet.
When storing a whole raw chicken or raw chicken that has been opened, it needs to be stored in an airtight container or Ziploc bag. Then place it on the bottom of the fridge until ready to use. After two days, I recommend freezing your raw chicken and keeping it in your freezer until it's ready to be used.
As a result, whether plastic bags for food in the refrigerator are safe depends on the kind of bag you use. To store and preserve food, do not use recycled plastic bags, plastic bags without a clear origin, or red and green plastic bags.
Plastic bags are porous. Bacteria can hide in microscopic holes that can't be perfectly washed. I would say it's fine as long as you plan to use or freeze the chicken quickly, but it will spoil faster.
Amidor advises storing raw chicken in a plastic bag or container in the lower part of the refrigerator so it doesn't risk dripping onto other items. “Avoid storing raw chicken above ready-to-eat-food, like produce, in case it does leak,” she says.
Cross-contamination can be a concern when handling multiple products, and limiting any exposure to bacteria is essential. This is why when it comes to raw meat, low-density and high-density polyethylenes, along with a few other types of plastic, are often the materials of choice.
Plus, some vegetables give off odors that can be absorbed by fruits and affect their quality. Think onions and garlic. Refrigerate fruits and vegetables in perforated plastic bags to help maintain moisture yet provide air flow.
Plastic bags are difficult and costly to recycle and most end up on landfill sites where they take around 300 years to photodegrade. They break down into tiny toxic particles that contaminate the soil and waterways and enter the food chain when animals accidentally ingest them.
According to National Geographic's The Green Guide, plastics #2, #4 and #5 are the safest for repeatedly storing your food. If you reuse items made from plastics #1, #3, #6 and #7 (some Tupperware products are made from #7), you run the risk of having toxic chemicals leach into the contents.
Storing Chicken in the Fridge
No need to stash it in the freezer — it's OK to store raw chicken (whole or in pieces) for 1–2 days in the fridge. If you have leftovers that include cooked chicken, you can expect those to last in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.
To safely store your chicken, keep it in its original packaging and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. I then place mine in a plastic grocery bag to catch any remaining juices and stick it on the bottom shelf of the fridge.
Rotisserie chicken lasts for up to four days if cooked and stored correctly. Keep the chicken in an airtight container or zip-top bag, and do not consume leftover chicken if left at room temperature for an extended period of time (more than two hours).
Depending on the size and weight of your chicken, you'll need a large plastic bag with a zipper. You can even use a plastic oven bag to shake the chicken, then cook it later for easier clean up.
Wrap each chicken part (or whole bird, if you bought it whole) in plastic wrap, as tightly as possible. Place those wrapped parts in a zipper-lock freezer bag in a single layer. Better yet, vacuum-seal them in a plastic bag, if you have a vacuum sealer. (Our favorite is this one from NESCO.)
Plastic food storage bags are flimsy and easily torn when adding or removing other items into the fridge, which further increases the likelihood of bacteria spreading. Plastic containers and bags also cling to bacteria, even after they're put through a dishwasher which can cause serious illness in humans.
If you've used the bags for food storage, we recommend handwashing. We don't recommend reusing the bag if it was used to store raw meat, fish or any allergy-triggering foods – safety first!
Damage to the Natural Environment
It is estimated that plastic bags account for over 10% of the debris that washes up on our nation's coastlines. Most plastic bags do not biodegrade; over time, the bags break down into smaller, more toxic petro- polymers which eventually contaminate soils and waterways.
Here are some additional guidelines from the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on washing produce: Wash all produce thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting or cooking.
We recommend storing raw chicken in its original packaging whether it be in the fridge or freezer. If a package is leaking, you can put it in an airtight container or bag to keep it fresh.
Place raw meat, poultry, fish and seafood in sealed containers or plastic bags on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator so raw juices won't drip onto other food.
When you shop, separate raw meat, poultry, and seafood from other foods in your grocery shopping cart and in your refrigerator. Buy cold foods last. Put packages of raw meat in disposable plastic bags (if available) to contain any leakage which could cross contaminate cooked foods or produce.