How Long Does Vacuum Sealed Chicken Last in the Fridge?

Last Updated on September 14, 2024 by Shari Mason

Staying healthy **starts** with safely managing poultry, like chicken. **Storing** chicken in a **vacuum-sealed** container **keeps** it fresh longer. So, how long does **vacuum-sealed** chicken **last** in the **fridge**?

In this article, we’ll discuss how long its shelf life is and how it can be an excellent approach to protecting food.

How Long Will Vacuum Sealed Chicken Last in the Fridge?

Generally, a vacuum-sealed chicken can last for around three to ten days up to two weeks in the fridge. But several factors can differ in its shelf life. 

Chicken meat is highly perishable; preserving a vacuum-sealed chicken in the fridge could be short-term. But I find it better to freeze vacuum-sealed chicken rather than raw chicken meat in plastic containers.

Freezing can extend its shelf life for about nine to twelve months. Storing vacuum-sealed chicken in the freezer is suitable for long-term preservation. The shelf life will depend on the storage method you use in your vacuum-sealed chicken.

Read:

• Can Chicken Breast Be Bruised?
• Do You Need A Vacuum Sealer For Sous Vide?
• How To Store Raw Chicken In Fridge After Opening?

Shelf Life When Vacuum Sealed

Raw

The raw vacuum-sealed chicken will usually last three or four days in the fridge.

In my experience, raw vacuum-sealed chicken can last only two to four hours at room temperature. You can store vacuum-sealed chicken in a freezer, extending its shelf life from nine months to a year. 

On the other hand, raw marinated chicken can last up to 36 hours if you plan to put it in a dehydrator to make chicken jerky. But the average shelf life of your marinated chicken is 24 hours.

However, depending on vacuum sealing alone will not prevent it from spoiling. If it takes longer, bacteria could grow and spread throughout the meat, resulting in food poisoning if consumed. Find out if chicken should be at room temperature before cooking here.

Cooked

For cooked chicken, vacuum-sealed meat should last about three to four days if stored properly in the fridge. [1] But a cooked chicken outside the fridge will last only for a day.

A vacuum-sealed cooked chicken will last longer than usual, but it must still be consumed within four days.

Meanwhile, smoked vacuum-sealed chicken can last for about a day or two. It will take up to one month if you put a smoked vacuum-sealed chicken in the freezer. But how will you make chicken crispy without frying it?

Factors That Make Chicken Last Longer When Vacuum Sealed 

Lack of Air

Removing air from the plastic zipper bag or chicken pouch can make it last longer when vacuum sealed. Thus, vacuum sealing preserves the freshness, flavor, and quality of meat for a long time. 

You can do a vacuum packing technique to drain the air from a vacuum packaging before sealing it. If all the air is not removed, it can quickly damage the meat’s quality. 

It can grow bacteria on the chicken if that air comes in contact with the meat. That’s why halting air exposure is a big help in preserving it.

Read: How Long Does Raw Chicken Last In The Fridge?

Uncontaminated

You don’t want your whole chickens to be contaminated with water or vapor while vacuum sealing. When pouched is sealed, steam or water vapor can form an air bubble. 

These air bubbles could form larger and could result in product contamination. So, ensure not to allow water or other unnecessary liquids to be drawn

Temperature

Storing a vacuum-seal chicken should be at the right temperature. Generally, you can store it at 40°F or below. Otherwise, the growth of the bacteria could grow quickly.

Also, you can put it on the shelves when storing meat in the fridge. The door area location of the fridge has a lot of temperature fluctuation because of frequent opening and closing.

Read: Temperature To Grill Chicken On Pit Boss

How To Tell If It Has Gone Bad

Appearance

The raw chicken has the usual light pink meat; if it changes color, it has gone bad.

Meanwhile, a cooked chicken has white meat underneath; it’s unsafe if it looks gray or discolored. Also, it’s spoiled if you touch a chicken that has a slimy texture or feels like mucus. 

Smell

A raw chicken has gone bad if it holds a pungent and foul smell. But be cautious of the other spices that mask the odor of bad chicken. A chicken meal is spoiled if it has distinct pungent and rotten eggs. 

Taste 

You can often check its spoilage through smell, but you can take a small bite to know whether or not it is still in good condition. Chicken that has gone bad will usually have a bad sour taste.

Molds 

If there’s a part of a chicken that grows black or green fuzz, dispose of it. The unusual colors might be bacteria and molds formed in the chicken because of overdue contamination of its shelf life.

Proper Vacuum Sealing of Chicken 

I recently discovered that proper vacuum sealing of chicken is a great technique to keep the freshness of your chicken. It can help to protect your meat from freezer burns. I usually add an oxygen absorber sachet or a plastic zipper bag to the plastic wrap. 

Breaking a whole chicken into smaller portions is a great option to ensure no air is trapped in the chest cavity. Also, it is important to consider the quality of the meat before you vacuum seal chicken. 

The fresher the chicken, the longer it will stay in the fridge. Lastly, ensure you put a label and store the chicken in the fridge for the proper timeframe.

What Are the Benefits of Vacuum-Sealing of Chicken?

• Vacuum-sealing chicken can preserve and prolong its storage life. These products are vacuum-packed in an air-leak-proof package that will help inhibit the growth of bacteria. [2]. 
• It protects against the dehydration of the chicken, making it fresher for longer.
• It prevents contamination. 
• It helps reduce waste and keeps the chicken fresh longer. 

Can Vacuum Sealed Chicken Last Longer in the Freezer than in the Fridge? 

Yes, vacuum-sealed chicken lasts longer in the freezer than in the fridge. Based on my experience, the lower temperature and vacuum seal helps extend the shelf life of a chicken. 

If a vacuum-sealed chicken can last up to two weeks in the fridge, you can extend its shelf life up to nine months by storing it in the freezer. Just make sure to store the chicken to avoid the freezer burn.

FAQs

Conclusion 

Vacuum-sealed chicken can last around three to ten days in the fridge.

Cutting off the air in the chicken makes it less likely for most bacteria to grow and protects the meat from freezer burn.

But you must dispose of all chicken with discoloration, unusual odor, or gooey appearance. When in doubt, you can throw it out because consuming rotten meat might make you sick.

References:

1. https://extension.umn.edu/preserving-and-preparing/storage-times-food-refrigerator-and-freezer 
2. https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/What-are-the-benefits-of-vacuum-packing-meat-and-poultry