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Reputation: 276

Can I use chicken that is two days past the sell by date?

I have some chicken thighs that are two days past the sell by date. Are they still safe to use if I use them TODAY?

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6 Answers

  • 211448_559967205_6715099_n_small
    Reputation: 79

    2 days past the sell by date, you're likely just fine. Sell by dates are guidelines for store shelf life allowing for the consumer to have extra shelf life in the home refrigerator.

    On a side note: This would not be a safety issue, per se. More of a taste quality issue. Spoilage bacteria is not harmful. It actually crowds out many harmful pathogens and theoretically is safer to eat...though not necessarily palatable. :)

    Give it the sniff test. Chicken puts off a distinctive foul odor with spoilage.

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  • Qlandav2ex_small
    Reputation: 4209

    The sniff and careful inspection test (as mentioned by others here) is your best method. I always rely on my partner's nose here as she has a better sense of smell for food safety issues.

    For the future:
    If you don't have one already, get a good refrigerator/freezer thermometer so you can check the temperatures at various places in your refrigerator and also find out how low your freezer temperature is. Ideally, your refrigerator should keep the meat as cold as possible without freezing it. The freezer temperature should be at 0° F. or lower.

    Lastly, no convenience or small savings possibility is EVER worth risking eating spoiled or contaminated food. It is NEVER worth being as sick as bad food can make you.

    When in doubt, THROW IT OUT!

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  • Avatar_default
    Reputation: 239

    I had chicken spoil on me before the sell by date -- it was slimey (ew!).

    Since then I've tried to use meats within 1-2 days of purchase or else I freeze it and defrost.

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  • 174150_100001662168810_2789900_n_small
    Reputation: 1

    you usually have up to ten or twelve days after the sell by date... That's why it's a sell by, not an expiration date..

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  • Avatar_carrieoliver_small
    Reputation: 40

    If it's a sell-by date, one would think it's fine. But since different regions/stores have different rules when it comes to sell-by or use-by dates, I'd let your nose and fingers do the walking. If the chicken feels slimy & smells acrid/fishy, it's probably safer to not eat it.

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  • C5d579be15d0cabd9fcdff538f017ca1_reasonably_small_small
    Reputation: -47

    My rule is that it is fresh if it doesn't smell like chicken. It should have no smell at all.

    Same with fish...fish should never smell like fish...it should have no smell.

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