A rotisserie chicken is one of the best modern-day life hacks. You buy it from the grocery store, take it home, and eat it right away. If you don’t finish the whole thing in one meal (no judgment!), you usually have leftover chicken for the week. But how long will it really last? Whether it’s grilled, fried, roasted, or rotisserie chicken, cooked chicken has a limited shelf life. Let’s see how long it stays safe to eat.
How long does cooked chicken last in the fridge?
No matter how it’s cooked — grilled, fried, shredded, or blackened — cooked chicken is safe to eat for three to four days as long as it’s stored in the fridge the right way. That means keeping your cooked or rotisserie chicken at 40°F or below. And all pieces of chicken — thighs, wings, legs, and chicken breast — last the same amount of time.
So even if your chicken wasn’t perfect when you first cooked it (we’ve all had that happen!), you can still keep it and use the leftovers. Dry chicken? Shred it and put it in soup. Bland chicken? Chop it and make chicken salad.
What’s the best way to store cooked chicken?
Remember this FDA-approved rule: anything that needs refrigeration, including cooked chicken, must be put in the fridge within two hours to avoid food poisoning and foodborne illness. After two hours, bacteria can start growing. This rule applies to raw chicken too.
The USDA says you should let foods like chicken cool before storing them. Divide big bowls of soup into smaller containers to cool faster, and cut big pieces of meat — like a whole chicken — into parts before wrapping and storing them after cooling.
Put cooked chicken in something airtight, like a sealed container or a zip-close bag. This keeps the chicken fresh, prevents it from drying out, and stops chicken smells from spreading in your fridge.
Can you freeze cooked chicken?
Yes! Like other proteins, cooked chicken can be stored in the freezer to extend its shelf life. Frozen chicken pieces or frozen rotisserie chicken will stay good for about four months. Prepared chicken foods like casseroles or chicken soup can last four to six months in the freezer.
No matter how the chicken was cooked, freeze it in a tight container or freezer bag to keep its quality and prevent freezer burn. When thawing, do it safely in the fridge, in cold water, or in the microwave — never on the counter.
How to know if cooked chicken has gone bad
If it’s still within the 3–4 day window but you’re unsure whether the chicken is safe to eat, use your senses: smell and touch.
Spoiled cooked chicken will smell “off” and feel sticky, slimy, or tacky. Color change does not always mean it’s unsafe. Chicken can change color in the fridge depending on how it was prepared. If you’re unsure, it’s safer to throw it away.
What’s the best way to reheat cooked chicken?
You can reheat cooked chicken in the oven, microwave, or on the stove. Just remember that temperature matters most. The FDA says leftovers should reach an internal temperature of 165°F to be safe (a food thermometer helps a lot). Soups, stews, and gravies should be heated until they boil.
In the oven: Fried chicken and breaded chicken reheat well in the oven because it helps keep them crispy. Preheat to 400°F, place the chicken on a wire rack over a baking sheet, and heat for 15 minutes. If reheating roasted chicken, cover it with foil to keep it moist.
On the stove: For shredded chicken or chicken taken off the bone, use the stovetop. Add a little oil and some water or chicken broth to a pan, then heat the chicken until warm and tender.
In the microwave: It’s not always the best choice because the chicken can dry out or heat unevenly, but it’s the quickest. Place chicken in one layer on a microwave-safe plate, add a little oil and a splash of water, cover it with plastic wrap, and heat it. This helps with even heating and keeps the chicken moist.
Can you compost cooked chicken?
If your city offers a food scrap collection service, you can often put cooked chicken — including bones, skins, and meat — in the collection bin. Always check local rules first.
If you compost at home, it’s usually not recommended to compost meat like cooked chicken. Home compost piles don’t usually reach the high temperatures needed to break down bones and meat, and they can attract pests and harmful bacteria.
Sources:
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: “How long can you keep cooked chicken?” December 13, 2023. https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/How-long-can-you-keep-cooked-chicken
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: “Are You Storing Food Safely” January 18, 2023. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/are-you-storing-food-safely
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: “Can you put hot food in the refrigerator?” March 23, 2024. https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/Can-you-put-hot-food-in-the-refrigerator
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: “Chicken from Farm to Table.” November 14, 2019. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/poultry/chicken-farm-table
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: “The Color of Meat and Poultry.” August 6, 2013. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/color-meat-and-poultry
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: “What methods of reheating food are safe?” March 24, 2023. https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/What-methods-of-reheating-food-are-safe