Silly Questions About Fresh Chicken

Embrace

Hi Guys,

Sorry if these questions are really stupid and have obvious answers, but better to be safe than sorry right?!

So, I bought some Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs from Waitrose today as they were on offer (£3.00 as the use by date is today). My questions are:
Could I cook a few today and eat one cold tomorrow (even though they would technically be out of date by then?)
Can I freeze them (if so, how long will they last if the use by date is today).

Sorry for my stupidity :rotfl:

dogmom_3

Hi Embrace
Thesea re not stupid questions. After you have cooked them they will last three days or so in the fridge (any bacteria will have been killed by cooking), so yes, you can eat one tomorrow.
Technically you can freeze them as long as they are in date and they will last some while in the freezer but I normally cook meat straightaway if it's on the brink of the sell by date and freeze after cooking just to be sure.

Ladyluck1

Yes it'll be fine cold tomorrow if cooked today.
You can freeze today for a long time! The quality deteriorates over time but I've never noticed... I've used YS chicken that's been in the freezer 5 months

Embrace

Thank you for your help
So basically even though they are 'Use By' today, I can either cook them today and have them tomorrow, or freeze them and use when I need?

horsechestnut

Yes, you can safely do both of these things and also, as suggested, you can cook them and freeze them if you want.

POPPYOSCAR

I do not take much notice of use by dates as long as it smells ok I cook and eat it. Especially from Waitrose as I find their produce keeps very well.

Once you have cooked them they will keep in the fridge for several days anyway.

Embrace

Thank you, you helpful bunch
Quick question, with regards to cooking and freezing... Would this only work in a curry or other liquid type recipe? I usually eat my chicken dry (for example a Soy Sauce marinade) so could you cook and freeze that? If so, how would you eat it (after defrosting)? Would you have to cook it again?

cjez_2

If it is off it will STINK and look slimy. Believe me you WILL know. I used to wonder but meat is easy to know. If in doubt throw it out I say.
I would freeze it raw but I'd prefer to just cook and fridge it but if I cooked in a sauce like that then froze it quickly, I'd defrost in the fridge and heat in the microwave. I'm sure that'd be fine but if I'm wrong someone will point it out!:)

Linda32

When I freeze chicken I portion shreaded chicken in plastic food boxes. Defrost in the fridge overnight. Then eat it as it is cold which we have in the summer. Or re heat in curry sauce for example. Or gravy with perhaps leeks which I think is nice.

meritaten

tbh its personal preference whether you freeze 'raw or cooked' and 'as it is, or in a sauce or marinade'. just mark the pack cooked or raw so you know when to take it out to defrost. cooked chicken will only need reheating whereas the raw one will need to be fully cooked. either way is absolutely fine.
and no food question is a stupid one - we were not BORN knowing these things - we learn them along the way!

meg72

The best advice I was ever given about freezing was that's if its not off when it goes in it wont be off when it comes out.