HELP...chicken has a best by 24th Dec what would you do?

[Yankydoodledandy]

So grabbed a chicken from M&S today plan to cook Christmas morning
note > Ive only mentioned shop because if it was Aldi for instance I find their meat tends to go off very quick even before date.

So what would you do?

A. Freeze now and take out Christmas Eve evening to defrost overnight ready to cook Christmas Day morning

Or

B. Leave in fridge and cook Christmas Day morning hoping it will be ok

Could you not just cook it on 24th then carve it ready for the next day. It'll keep once it's cooked and save you the hassle of freezing/defrosting

A. If it wasn't Christmas I'd go for b, as dates are generally very conservative, but you don't want to risk your Christmas dinner.

@Takingabreakagain fab idea....I th8nk Im.going to do that.

M&S?

leave in the fridge and cook Christmas morning as planned.

it doesn't turn toxic at the stroke of midnight. A few extra hours won't make any difference.

I’d stick it in the freezer now for another time and go out and buy another one for Christmas Day. Option C!

24 hours shouldn't make a difference, unless it doesn't smell right. Just make sure it's thoroughly cooked through. It will be fine.

I'd also cook it on the 24th

Havent got time. I think Im going to cook 24th

It will be fine for Xmas day

I'd cook it on the 24th

Put it in the fridge & cook it Christmas Day.

Well I wouldn't actually as I'm vegetarian & don't cook meat for others either.

but it's not magically going to go off between midnight and 6 am.

I like this option

It'll be fine Xmas morning. The chicken won't know it's like 8 hours into Xmas day or whatever

A

Would this work for you?

Cook on 24th. Cool a bit and cut up into servings or whatever you like. Quarters or similar? Lay it in a Pyrex dish & refrigerate.

On 25th, make a gravy with veg/par boiled spuds water, OXO cubes, cornflour or granules to thicken, and pour some of it over chicken. Cover with cling film, punch holes in it and microwave until steaming hot.

Alternatively cover with foil and shove in oven until piping hot whilst you roast of your spuds.

If you make sure it’s thoroughly heated it’ll be fine. Meat carves more economically when its cooled.

It'll honestly be fine to cook on Christmas Day.

Same here with an Asda chicken dated 24/12. Planning to cook and eat on Xmas day and boxing day. It'll be fine (she says with fingers crossed!)

Cook 24th

A
... you really shouldn't keep it past its use by date in the fridge.
It's to do with the bacteria and the toxins they produce. You might not smell/ notice them but they are there and can easily have reached unsafe levels.

Freezing will obviously slow the process down.

Take it back and exchange it for one with a later date on it.

Put it in the freezer and defrost it Christmas Eve to cook on Christmas Day. In reality I'd probably just cook it Christmas Day, but if you're worried, freeze it in between times.

my sister and dh throw things away the date they need to be used by it drives me fucking mental

it doesnt just shrivel up and go off on the stroke of midnight

I went to cook an Asda chicken today and it was rancid. The use by date was today. It is the first and last time I will buy a chicken from Asda. I usually buy from M&S but they didn’t have any left.

I also vote for C

They would all get an ass pasting if they gave a date where the stuff went off literally within hours.rhey give time by over egging the date it will be absolutely fine.