How can de-thawed chicken last in the fridge?

[North_Of_60]

I took some chicken out on friday, and I just realized it's still in the fridge. With halloween everything I totally forgot about it. It's the kind of frozen chicken breast that comes in the box so it's treated with that brine stuff.

It's been sitting in a bowl and it smells fine. But I dunno. Think it's Ok?

[andreac]

I just cooked chicken breast that I took out on thursday last night and we're all still alive and well. It passed the sniff test, so we cooked it.

[Llyra]

It really depends on what condition it was in when it was frozen. Like if you held it in the fridge awhile before you froze it, or it was really close to its sell-by date when you bought it, then it'll obviously last less time once you thaw it. But I do think the smell test is reliable-- if it smells like fresh chicken should, it's fine.

[North_Of_60]

Nope, not near expiring, and it came straight from the store to the deep freeze. I took it out Friday evening and it's been in a bowl in the fridge. It smelled Ok, so it's in the oven now.

[Ola_]

I find stuff thaws slowly in the fridge, especially if there is a big block of frozen stuff. I guess I would follow the smell test and also check to see if it feels slimy when you touch it. If neither, then I'd probably cook it.

[Ammaarah]

I bet it's just fine. I'd totally use it.

[esmicosaquehago]

My general guideline is to give it however many days you had it since you bought it. For example, if it had five days until expiration when I bought it, and I had it in the fridge for two days until I froze it, then I have three days after thawing to use it. But I have been known to use questionable meat if its from a good source, and I am a FIRM believer in the sniff test. I have a strong sense of smell, and I think if its really bad, my body will be able to tell and will reject it. I never eat any meat I feel weird about after checking it out.