What to do with raw chicken?

[Pheasantlysurprised]

I hope someone can advise and that this isn't an inappropriate place to put this.

I often purchase a tray of raw organic chicken fillets. There are two large fillets in the tray. This is often from either Tesco or Ocado, and the pack instructions always say eat once opened, immediately.

But my DP, who buys all sorts of raw meat, puts the excess in a sealed tub for up to 2 days and has never had an issue.

Am I being a bit precious not doing this? I always give him the spare fillet, which pisses me off, because he isn't too arsed about eating it and I would love to seal it and have it the day after.

What is the safe way to do this, if there is one? Most stuff online says I can store it, sealed, for up to 2 days so long as it is with the sell by date.

[PlanDeRaccordement]

Yes you can split a pack and
-store sealed in refrigerator for two days so long as within expiry date
-store frozen in a freezer bag
Or
-cook all of it and store a cooked portion in the fridge for 4 days.

[RampantIvy]

If it isn't for immediate consumption you can freeze it. If, for example the use by date is Wednesday and you open it on Sunday, you can put the other fillet in a sealed container and use it on Monday. It will be perfectly safe.

[Pheasantlysurprised]

I love you, thank you! Will save me a fortune.

(can tell im thrilled about this, I am generally really paranoid about raw meat)

[dementedpixie]

If its within the use by then its perfectly OK to store in the fridge until you need to use it. I usually stick it in a freezer bag. Alternatively put it in the freezer for a later date.

[GreyhoundG1rl]

. You can eat it anytime before the use by date once it's stored correctly, and putting it in the fridge in a sealed container is the correct way to store it.

[Pheasantlysurprised]

So why do stores insist that you eat both immediately? Is it to minimise issues if people screw up?

[Fifthtimelucky]

I would do one of three things with the spare:

• freeze it (raw);
• do what your partner does and make sure I cooked it before the use by date; or
• cook it with the other one and then reheat a couple of days later (or freeze it once cooked).

[Pheasantlysurprised]

Or is it an effort to get you to repurchase sooner??!!
That wold be me, haha, I am gullible.

[secretbookcase]

I always freeze the ones I'm not using immediately. DH keeps them in the fridge but I think raw chicken is safer frozen if you plan on eating it later in the week.

[Lellochip]

@Pheasantlysurprised

So why do stores insist that you eat both immediately? Is it to minimise issues if people screw up?

I've never seen anything say it must be used immediately? I always stored any opened meat in a freezer bag in the fridge to be used anytime before the Use by date, and never had any problems. Though I did have it pointed out recently that some meats do say use within 24 hours of opening, so now I try ~sometimes~

If I freeze meat then I inevitably forget about it and build up a stash in the freezer whilst continuing to buy fresh

[PlanDeRaccordement]

@Pheasantlysurprised

So why do stores insist that you eat both immediately? Is it to minimise issues if people screw up?

I think they say that to cover themselves from any liability because usually the opened packaging with the expiry date is discarded and then people store half the raw chicken in their fridge with no date noted on the container they put it in..so then they forget and perhaps leave it too long, then get sick. Companies don’t want to be held liable for people taking raw meat out of their packaging and storing some for later with no date noted.

[iloverunningslow]

My husband is the only meat eater in the house so he goes through it slowly. He keeps all his meat in the freezer then when he opens it and defrosts it he cooks the lot and eats it within a week. apparently it lasts longer that way.

[Pheasantlysurprised]

Thank you, this is great info, really appreciate it.

Would the same work for fish fillets, it is often vacuum packed - I guess not?

[Bodule]

OP, I'm completely paranoid about raw meat, especially chicken, and I would - and do - happily use one chicken fillet one day, then the other one up to two days later (having stored it in a sealed container on the bottom shelf of the fridge, with the 'use by' date written on it - because I am, as I say, paranoid about raw meat). I would also freeze an unopened packet any day up until the 'use by' date, and an opened fillet (appropriately packaged to prevent contamination) on the day of opening, with the date on it. When I wanted to use it, I would defrost it overnight in the fridge and cook it for supper the following day.

I would never re-heat cooked meat, but I know loads of people do and come to no harm at all.

[Butterflyfern]

@Pheasantlysurprised

Thank you, this is great info, really appreciate it.

Would the same work for fish fillets, it is often vacuum packed - I guess not?

Yes. Open vacuum pack, take out what you need. Cling film rest tightly and freeze. Or separate into portions if more than one portion left and then clingfilm and freeze. You just want to reduce the amount of air in the clingfilm to avoid freezer burn.

Has your DP not said anything about this? Seems he has been taking advantage of your paranoia!

[dementedpixie]

@Pheasantlysurprised

Thank you, this is great info, really appreciate it.

Would the same work for fish fillets, it is often vacuum packed - I guess not?

It works for all foods really. If its within use by then repackage and store in the fridge or freezer

[Pheasantlysurprised]

Has your DP not said anything about this? Seems he has been taking advantage of your paranoia!

crikey no! he has tried to convince me to portion it for the next day. I am guilty of considering him a bit too gung-ho.

[Pheasantlysurprised]

he is swaggering with smugness right now that ive been proved wrong..

[DecayedStrumpet]

If it says 'packaged in a protective atmosphere' then there is gas in the packet to preserve it. So if you open the food and expose it to air, it won't last as long as the use by date on the packet.

That's often why things get labelled use within x days of opening.

[GreyhoundG1rl]

@DecayedStrumpet

If it says 'packaged in a protective atmosphere' then there is gas in the packet to preserve it. So if you open the food and expose it to air, it won't last as long as the use by date on the packet.

That's often why things get labelled use within x days of opening.

Oh, that's interesting. Better change my fridge arrangements ever so slightly

[HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule]

@Pheasantlysurprised

So why do stores insist that you eat both immediately? Is it to minimise issues if people screw up?

Yeah it’s because a lot of people don’t know about or can’t understand how to safely store raw meat.

[IgiveupallthenamesIwantedareg0]

"Use By" and "Best Before" does NOT mean "eat after this date and you will die immediately"
Use common sense, wash in cold water, dry with kitchen paper, pack in an airtight bag and store in the lower part of the fridge for a day or three. Cook well at a high temperature and you will live!

[rosesarered321]

Yes what @DecayedStrumpet said, one you open the packet it doesn't last as long as it would have done. I use it within a couple of days or freeze or cook it.

[dementedpixie]

@IgiveupallthenamesIwantedareg0

"Use By" and "Best Before" does NOT mean "eat after this date and you will die immediately"
Use common sense, wash in cold water, dry with kitchen paper, pack in an airtight bag and store in the lower part of the fridge for a day or three. Cook well at a high temperature and you will live!

Don't wash raw poultry; there's no need for it
Put in a tub or freezer bag without washing and store in fridge or freezer

[Pheasantlysurprised]

Have checked what I have in at the moment.

My Sainsbury's pack says once opened use within 48 hrs.
my Tesco pack says use immediately.
Neither of them were packaged in a protective atmosphere, at least according to the labelling.