Poultry Shelf Life
Raw poultry has the shortest fridge life of any common meat: 1–2 days, whatever the cut. Cooked, it keeps 3–4 days. Freeze what you will not cook in time; pieces hold best quality for about 9 months and whole birds for a year.
13 foods · times shown are for the most common state of each food; tap a food for every state, storage tips and spoilage signs.
Chicken
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken Breast Raw |
1–2 days | 9 months | Not safe |
| Chicken Drumsticks Raw |
1–2 days | 9 months | Not safe |
| Chicken Sausage Raw |
1–2 days | 1–2 months | Not safe |
| Chicken Thighs Raw |
1–2 days | 9 months | Not safe |
| Chicken Wings Raw |
1–2 days | 9 months | Not safe |
| Ground Chicken Raw |
1–2 days | 3–4 months | Not safe |
| Rotisserie Chicken Cooked |
3–4 days | 2–4 months | Not safe |
| Whole Chicken Raw |
1–2 days | 1 year | Not safe |
Other poultry
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duck Raw |
1–2 days | 6 months | Not safe |
Turkey
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Turkey Raw |
1–2 days | 3–4 months | Not safe |
| Turkey Bacon Opened |
1 week | 1 month | Not safe |
| Turkey Breast Raw |
1–2 days | 9 months | Not safe |
| Whole Turkey Raw |
1–2 days | 1 year | Not safe |
Not safe = perishable: no more than 2 hours at room temperature. Not recommended = possible, but quality suffers. Freezer times are best-quality windows at 0°F (−18°C).