The question of how long you can keep chicken salad in the fridge is one that has been asked by many people.
In this post, we will talk about it so you can have a better understanding of what to do with your chicken salad.
So, how long you can keep chicken salad in the fridge?
Yes, you can keep chicken salad in the fridge for up to 3-5 days as long as it is stored properly. I recommend that you consume the chicken salad within the given time period for safety and quality purposes.
However, the length of time that chicken salad can stay in the fridge may vary depending on the chicken salad preparation, ingredients, and storage.
How to store the chicken salad in the fridge?
To store your homemade chicken salad, you can use a regular plastic container. The size of the container will depend on how much you are making and how long it is going to stay in the refrigerator.
You want to make sure that it is air-tight and not exposed to any type of contamination.
There are some people who will purchase a container specifically for these types of things. But I find the regular plastic containers work just as well and cost much less money.
When you are storing chicken salad in the refrigerator, you want to place it in the back of your refrigerator.
This will help keep it as fresh as possible and last longer in the fridge.
How to store the chicken salad with mayonnaise or other dressings?
When you are storing a chicken salad that has mayonnaise or another type of dressing, I recommend covering the top of the container with some plastic wrap.
This will keep any of the dressing from dripping on anything else in the refrigerator.
How long can you refrigerate chicken salad with mayonnaise?
If your chicken salad has mayo, then it is going to have to stay in the fridge for a shorter period of time than if it did not.
The chicken salad usually lasts two days longer than if it did not have mayonnaise.
This is because of the type of ingredients that are in the chicken salad and the way they interact with each other.
The dressing will also go bad faster, so I recommend using them within 24 hours of preparing them to enjoy their best taste.
Keep chicken salad with mayo refrigerated at or below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. This will protect the chicken and prevent it from spoiling too soon.
If chicken salad with mayo is left out on the counter, then it could easily grow mold within a few hours and become unsafe to eat.
If it becomes moldy, then it should be thrown away in a sealed dumpster. Do not eat a chicken salad with mayo if it has grown mold.
It is better for chicken salad with mayo to be kept at temperatures above freezing rather than frozen because some of the chicken may become mushy when thawed.
What if the chicken salad has no mayonnaise?
If the chicken salad does not have mayo as a dressing, then you can keep it refrigerated for up to five days.
This is because there are very few ingredients in the chicken salad itself that will make it go bad.
The biggest concern would be if you added any type of lettuce or other leafy green vegetables.
If you do add lettuce or other vegetables, keep the chicken salad refrigerated for up to three days.
After this, I recommend that you throw it away because of the risks associated with eating bad fruits and vegetables.
How long can you keep a chicken salad in the refrigerator if it has cheese?
This is one of those recipes that I would recommend storing in a plastic container.
The reason is that cheese can grow mold and you will not be able to tell it is on the chicken salad until you step back and take a look at it.
I recommend that you throw out the entire recipe or just toss the part with mold on it.
With that said, if you are really looking to eat it, then just make sure that you throw away the part with mold on it.
Can you eat chicken salad left out overnight?
Chicken salad left out overnight should not be eaten.
The longer chicken salad is left out, the more likely chicken salad will contain harmful bacteria like E. Coli and salmonella that could cause sickness.
How to tell if chicken salad is bad?
You will know that chicken salad is bad if it has a foul odor or has turned an unappetizing color.
The chicken salad can develop a pink hue when the mayonnaise begins to break down.
If this occurs, then throw away the chicken salad since it will taste strange and smell worse than normal.
If you do not like the smell of chicken salad that has been in the fridge, then it is better to throw it away.
How long can a chicken salad sandwich sit out?
If it is wrapped in cellophane, then it should be fine for an hour or two.
After a few hours, the chicken salad will become softer and the bread could get soggy or worse, grow mold.
Always remember that food like a salad of any kind should not be left on the counter for more than two hours.
More than two hours of exposure at room temperature, you should discard it.
How long is chicken salad good for after the sell-by date?
Chicken salad is good for 2 to 3 days after the sell-by date has passed.
After chicken salad has ‘expired’, it will become stale and mushy; you may also notice that chicken salad becomes slimy during this time.
If chicken salad begins to turn a strange color or has an unusual odor then it should be thrown out.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, you can keep chicken salad in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.
It is important to remember though that the length of time chicken salad can last in the fridge depends on the ingredients being used.
If you plan on storing it longer, then freezing it right away is a better idea.
I hope this post helped answer the question about how long you should store the chicken salad in the fridge.
Reference
USDA: Food Safety and Inspection Services
