TempoLife › Features › How long food keeps: fridge, freezer and pantry › chicken-pieces
Raw chicken pieces shelf life
Raw chicken pieces keeps 1-2 days in the fridge, 9 months in the freezer. Spoilage signs and the safe-handling notes, from the USDA Cold Food Storage Chart.
Storage at a glance
| Where | How long |
|---|---|
| Fridge (0-4 °C) | 1-2 days |
| Freezer (-18 °C) | 9 months |
Signs it has gone off
Sour smell, slimy surface, grey colour.
Safe handling
Keep in the coldest part of the fridge and cook to 74 C internal.
Storage times are guidance, not a guarantee. If it looks or smells wrong, do not taste it to check.
Source: USDA Cold Food Storage Chart / FDA-USDA FoodKeeper · checked 2026-09-03
Frequently asked questions
How long does raw chicken pieces last in the fridge?
1-2 days — stored sealed, at 4 C or below.
Can you freeze raw chicken pieces?
Yes — about 9 months for quality. Frozen at a constant -18 C it stays safe longer; the time is about taste and texture.
How do you know when raw chicken pieces has gone off?
Sour smell, slimy surface, grey colour. Trust the signs over any date.
Raw minced meat (beef, pork, lamb)
Fridge: 1-2 days · freezer: 3-4 months
Raw beef steaks and roasts
Fridge: 3-5 days · freezer: 6-12 months
Raw pork chops and roasts
Fridge: 3-5 days · freezer: 4-6 months
Raw lamb
Fridge: 3-5 days · freezer: 6-9 months
Raw whole chicken
Fridge: 1-2 days · freezer: 12 months
Raw sausages
Fridge: 1-2 days · freezer: 1-2 months
Know the shelf life, plan the week
TempoLife puts the food plan next to your goals, so what you bought gets eaten, not binned.