How Long Can You Let Chicken Sit Out

Sometimes frozen chicken is left sitting on the counter overnight or for several hours during the day to thaw. But is this safe?

The answer is “NO”! This is a recipe for foodborne illness–not what you want to feed your family or friends! Chicken, especially raw chicken, requires more attention to food safety.

“When in doubt, throw it out!” ....USDA

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Can you let chicken sit on the counter overnight?

No: The 2-hour rule

Whole frozen raw chicken, a frozen chicken casserole, or raw pieces of chicken can be left on the counter (at room temperature) safely for only two hours.

Any sort of cooked chicken must not sit out for more than two hours.

Don’t let chicken thaw on the counter if it will take longer than two hours.

How long can a frozen raw or cooked chicken sit at room temperature?

90-degree plus mercury: The 1-hour rule

As noted above, it can sit out for up to two hours unless your room is warm. If the temperature is above 90 F, it can stay out for only an hour before it becomes unsafe.

What happens if you let chicken sit out for longer than two hours?

At temperatures between 40 F and 140 F, bacteria multiply more quickly. The USDA calls this the “Danger Zone”.

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In chicken, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Clostridium perfringens in particular, can cause food poisoning, according to the CDC. The agency says that a million people each year get sick from eating contaminated poultry.

How can you tell if chicken is rotten?

The obvious signs are:

• Change in color (greener)
• Bad smell, off odor
• Sliminess

But, your chicken may show none of these signs and still contain harmful bacteria. 

Symptoms of Foodborne Illness 🤢

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Nausea 
• Stomach pain and cramps
• Fever

The first two symptoms may cause dehydration, so be sure and drink plenty of fluids. If symptoms persist, especially if you have bloody diarrhea and a high fever, seek medical attention.

Risks of severe illness from food poisoning are kidney damage, meningitis, brain and nerve damage, and arthritis.

Who is most at risk for food poisoning?

• Adults older than 65
• Children younger than 5
• Pregnant women
• People with poor immunity who have trouble fighting disease

The last category includes anyone with HIV, those undergoing radiation or chemotherapy, people with diabetes or an immune condition like lupus.

Best methods for defrosting chicken

• Refrigerator (1)

A whole chicken can take up to two days. Using the fridge is safest because food stays at a low temperature.

Put the chicken in an airtight bag in a leakproof container and place it on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator in a bowl that will catch the drips as the chicken thaws. Make sure it doesn’t touch other food and spread bacteria.

• Cold water bath (2)

This method is faster. Place chicken in a waterproof plastic zip bag and submerge in a tub or bowl of cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes until the chicken is thawed. 

A pound will thaw in an hour or less. A three- to four-pound chicken could take two to three hours. Be sure and cook it before freezing it again.

• Microwave (3)

The fastest way to thaw a chicken! Use 30% power, a low setting, and two to four minutes for each pound of chicken. Turn periodically even if your microwave has a turntable to help the chicken thaw evenly. 

Some microwaves have a specific defrost setting for chicken that usually instructs you to turn halfway through. Check your user manual. 

At a minimum, turn a large amount of chicken every 5 minutes.

To prevent the thinner parts of the chicken from cooking while defrosting, wrap them with small pieces of aluminum foil. Known as shielding, this technique works well with the edges of pieces and wings on a bird.

(Yes, it's surprising, but you can use a small amount of foil in a microwave!)

Cook chicken immediately after you’ve finished thawing. Unfortunately, no matter how often you turn and how well you shield the thinner poultry parts, your chicken will not defrost without getting more “cooked” in certain spots. 

How long does thawed chicken keep in the refrigerator?

❄Defrosted raw chicken keeps for one to two days after which it should be cooked. Defrosted cooked chicken should last three to four days and should be frozen for longer storage. 

How long can you store frozen chicken in the freezer?

🧊Whole chickens will last for a year. Individual parts are good for up to 9 months. A vacuum sealer machine that forces out any air can help retain quality.

How to safely cook chicken

Don’t wash chicken before cooking! Wipe away any blood or surface debris with a paper towel that can be discarded. Washing can spread bacteria to many surfaces in your kitchen. 

No matter how you cook it, chicken must reach an internal temperature of 165 F. Use a food thermometer to check the temperature.

Set oven temperature to a minimum of 325 F.

Refrigerate and/or freeze leftover cooked chicken within two hours, or within one hour if the ambient temperature is warm.

Keep surfaces clean when preparing chicken

Use a separate cutting board for raw chicken.

🧼Wash any prep areas, knives, and cutting boards with hot, soapy water before preparing any other foods.

Chicken recipes you might like:

Grilled Umami Chicken Thighs are juicy and infused with the flavor of a delicious Asian marinade.

Lemon Chicken Traybake is a super quick and easy sheet-pan dinner.

Creamy Coconut Chicken Curry is a one-pot meal that's got plenty of protein and features gluten-free pasta in a creamy sauce.

🍲 Chicken Soup with Rice is a popular recipe that's perfect if you have leftover cooked chicken or a couple of pieces of raw bird you need to use up. 

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