Will my chicken be ok? Panicking now

[Mortgageandmoney]

Hi everyone,

On Saturday we got the grim news of tier 4 so that was the end of our Christmas plans, which had been small to start with but did involve my parents providing the meat for our roast.

I went to the supermarket to buy some of the basics, really as a way to try and make myself feel better. I got pigs in blankets and a chicken. The chicken has a date kf the 27th but now I'm worrying 6 days is a long time to sit in the fridge. But then would it have sat in the fridge at tesco had I have bought it today?

I'm just in a bit of tizz and worrying about chicken lunch, which we have never cooked before. Just the two of us so don't want to ruin the main event! DH says to stop worrying! But he always says that... oh wise ones, please help!

Merry Christmas x

[Mortgageandmoney]

Christmas lunch* we have cooked roast chicken before.

[Changeismyname]

It will be absolutely fine

[LittleBearPad]

It will be fine. It’s well within date.

[Sn0tnose]

Yeah, it will be absolutely fine.

[LagneyandCasey]

It's fine. Ours is the 26th if that makes you feel better

[Tempusfudgeit]

It depends on how old your fridge is, how full it is and for how long the chicken has already been refrigerated. I would freeze it and defrost it when needed to be sure.

[Mortgageandmoney]

Thanks everyone!

I don't have a freezer unfortunately otherwise I would have frozen it. @LagneyandCasey yes that does make me feel a lot better, thanks

[BarbaraofSeville]

Do you know what temperature your fridge is?

Our fridge is over 20 years old, but keeps 3/4 C properly. But you do have to watch the temperature if its fuller than normal. But otherwise, there's really nothing to worry about. The date is 2 days past when you plan to eat it, so you have plenty of margin for error.

Have you really never roasted a chicken before ?

[BarbaraofSeville]

Oh, I see that you've roasted a chicken but not cooked Christmas lunch before.

There really isn't much, if any, difference unless you make a huge extra unnecessary performance of the whole affair, it's just a roast chicken dinner for the two of you.

[WorraLiberty]

To all all those saying the chicken will be fine...

The OP bought it on Saturday which was the 20th. That means by Christmas day it will have been sat in a fridge for at least 5 days.

Of course it won't be fine. It'll have died of hypothermia! 🤷‍♀️

[WorraLiberty]

Actually, Saturday was the 19th which is even worse

[dementedpixie]

Our turkey is dated 26th. As we're cooking it on 25th it will be fine as its within the use by date