Tips for safely storing raw chicken in the freezer. We're here to help you eat safely and reduce food waste.

How long can raw chicken last in the freezer?

When kept consistently at -18 degrees centigrade, raw chicken can be safely frozen for up to one year, depending on the cut.

• Whole chickens can be left in their original packaging then placed into an airtight freezer bag, labelled with the date and frozen for up to one year.
• Chicken breast, thighs and drumsticks should be double wrapped in cling film and placed in an airtight container or freezer bag. These can be safely frozen for up to 9 months.
• Chicken mince and giblets can be frozen for up to 4 months.

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Don’t freeze chicken past its use by date

Only freeze chicken that is within its original use by date. Once thawed, the chicken will only be safe to eat for the amount of time left from its original use by date. For example, if you freeze the chicken two days ahead of its use by date, you have two days to eat it after you thaw it out.

It’s a good idea to write the new use-by-date on the freezer packaging and rotate food in your freezer to ensure the oldest chicken is used first.

How to freeze chicken and avoid freezer burn

Freezer burn happens when water molecules in the chicken form ice crystals and draw moisture out of the meat. The chicken will still be safe to eat but it will lose a lot of its flavour and the texture will be dry and unappetising.

The best way to avoid freezer burn is to wrap each individual chicken piece (or the whole bird) in cling wrap as tightly as possible. Then place the wrapped pieces into a freezer bag.

Store the chicken at the back (or bottom) of the freezer. This helps to minimise changes in temperature when the freezer door is opened and closed which can contribute to freezer burn.

How to tell if frozen chicken is bad

If you have frozen your chicken before its use by date and at a consistent temperature, it shouldn’t go bad.

But that doesn’t mean it hasn’t!

• Look for discolouration of the meat. If there are any grey or green-hued areas, the chicken is bad and should be thrown out.
• Does the frozen chicken smell off? Frozen chicken shouldn’t smell of anything, so if there is a faint odour, the chicken was probably past its use by date when it was frozen or already spoiled. Err on the side of caution and bin it.
• Thaw the chicken and check it. Frozen chicken should ideally be thawed out on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator overnight. Unsafe chicken will be discoloured with a dull greyish hue and have a strong odour indicating it has begun to spoil. The texture of spoiled chicken will feel slimy or sticky to the touch and may be sitting in a pool of liquid.