If you love chicken livers, you may be wondering how to properly store them in your fridge and freezer. They are high in protein, folate, and iron which are great nutrients to keep your body healthy. How long does chicken liver last in the fridge? And does it change if it’s cooked or raw?
In this post, learn about how to properly store raw and cooked chicken livers in your freezer and fridge so that you can safely enjoy them when you want.
Table of Contents
How Long Does Raw Chicken Liver Last in the Fridge?
Raw chicken livers only last 24 to 48 hours in the refrigerator as long as your fridge’s temperature is 40°F (4°C) or lower.
If the chicken liver is in your fridge for more two days, more than likely it has spoiled. Just to be sure, give your chicken liver a sniff test.
If you detect a scent like ammonia, then it’s time to toss your raw chicken livers and grab a new package from the grocery store.
How Long Does Cooked Chicken Liver Last in the Fridge?
According to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Refrigerator & Freezer Storage Chart, you can store cooked chicken liver in your fridge for at least three days but no more than four days since the day that you originally cooked the meal.
You must keep your fridge temperature at 40°F (4°C) or lower for the chicken liver to stay fresh for this long.
More reading: How Long Does Turkey Bacon Last?
6 Chicken Liver Storage Tips
You may have noticed some similarities in the temperature when storing chicken liver.
- If you are storing raw or cooked chicken livers in the fridge, be sure that your fridge’s temperature is 40°F (4°C) or below to maintain optimal freshness for both stages.
- If you are storing chicken livers in your freezer, reassure that your freezer is at 32°F (0°C) or below.
- The best way to store your fresh chicken livers is in the fridge. Cook your chicken livers while they are still fresh, which will be within the 1-2 days of you first purchasing them.
- Cook only what your family will eat for the next few nights. Do not cook too many chicken livers to the point that you will have to throw out the cooked livers after four days sitting in the fridge or to the point you have to freeze the cooked chicken livers to stay fresh for when you are in the mood to eat them again.
- If you decide to freeze cooked chicken livers, be prepared for a completely different taste and texture, whereas they may not be as edible as they were when freshly cooked.
- When you freeze your chicken livers, be sure to drain the excess moisture by placing them in a colander and patting them dry with a paper towel. Separate the chicken livers into freezer bags based on how many you would need for each of your upcoming meals. Then you can stick them into your freezer once you are finished with these steps.
Can You Freeze Chicken Livers?
While the quality of the chicken livers may not be as tasty as cooking fresh chicken liver, you can still freeze raw chicken livers at 32°F (0°C) or below in your freezer.
It will remain safe for you to eat, but you may need to doctor it up with some seasonings and herbs for it to taste better coming from its frozen state.
If you cook fresh chicken livers and then freeze them, there is an even larger chance that they will not be very edible once you defrost and reheat them for consumption.
Cooked chicken livers should be frozen by day two so you can maintain their freshness if you will not be eating them as leftovers the day right after cooking them.
More reading: How long does chili last?
Conclusion
Chicken livers are tasty and healthy for you when stored and cooked correctly. Be sure to follow proper storage and cooking instructions carefully so as not to get sick.
What do you think? Do eggs need to be refrigerated? And how long can eggs sit out?
- About the Author
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Dena Haines is a co-founder and blogger on Tasty Plate – and is working to make it the best food blog in the world.
Dena also blogs about coffee at Enjoy Java and travel at Storyteller.Travel
Dena is a partner at Storyteller Media, a publishing company she started with her husband, Bryan.