How long does cooked chicken last?

Checked 24 Oct 20264 official publishers, 7 sources

Cooked pieces, plain: 3-4 days in the fridge and 4 months in the freezer for best quality.

Storage times for cooked chicken by state and place
StateCounterFridge 40 °FFreezer 0 °F
Cooked pieces, plain 2 hours max CDC 3-4 days safety FDA 4 months best quality FDA Sources disagree: 4-6 months Extension
Cooked poultry dishes 2 hours max CDC 3-4 days safety FDA FoodKeeper 4-6 months best quality FoodKeeper FDA
In broth or gravy 2 hours max CDC 3-4 days safety FDA 6 months best quality FDA
Fried chicken 2 hours max CDC 3-4 days safety FDA FoodKeeper 4 months best quality FoodKeeper FDA
Nuggets or patties 2 hours max CDC 3-4 days safety FDA 1-3 months best quality FoodKeeper FDA Extension
Nuggets or patties, thawed 2 hours max CDC 1-2 days FoodKeeper Not stated
Times assume continuous refrigeration at 40 °F or below. When in doubt, throw it out. Freezer times are for quality: “Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.” FDA

Sources compared

SourceStateCounterFridgeFreezer
CDC 2024Cooked pieces, plain2 hours--
FDA 2018Cooked pieces, plain-3-4 days4 months
University of Illinois ExtensionCooked pieces, plain--4-6 months
FDA 2018Cooked poultry dishes-3-4 days4-6 months
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Cooked poultry dishes-3-4 days4-6 months
CDC 2025Cooked poultry dishes2 hours--
FDA 2018In broth or gravy-3-4 days6 months
CDC 2025In broth or gravy2 hours--
FDA 2018Fried chicken-3-4 days4 months
CDC 2025Fried chicken2 hours--
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Fried chicken-3-4 days4 months
FDA 2018Nuggets or patties-3-4 days1-3 months
University of Illinois ExtensionNuggets or patties--1-3 months
CDC 2025Nuggets or patties2 hours--
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Nuggets or patties--1-3 months
CDC 2025Nuggets or patties, thawed2 hours--
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Nuggets or patties, thawed-1-2 days-

A dash means that source gives no time for that place.

Handling and freezing notes

  • “Keep raw chicken and its juices away from ready-to-eat foods, like salads or food that is already cooked.” CDC
  • “Never place cooked food or fresh produce on a plate, cutting board, or other surface that previously held raw chicken.” CDC

What the sources say

In its section on leftover cooked poultry, the FDA storage chart gives 3 to 4 days in the fridge for every item: plain pieces, pieces covered with broth or gravy, cooked poultry dishes, fried chicken, and nuggets or patties.2

FoodKeeper gives the same 3 to 4 days for cooked poultry dishes and for fried chicken.46

Freezer times vary more by type: the FDA chart lists 4 months for plain pieces and for fried chicken, 6 months for pieces covered with broth or gravy, and 1 to 3 months for nuggets and patties.2

The University of Illinois Extension freezer chart lists 4 to 6 months for cooked poultry, so for plain pieces the shorter FDA time is shown first.32

Both freezer charts describe their times as quality times, and the FDA chart notes that freezing at 0 °F keeps food safe indefinitely.23

FoodKeeper gives chicken nuggets or patties 1 to 3 months in the freezer from purchase and 1 to 2 days in the fridge after thawing, shorter than the 3 to 4 days the FDA chart lists for nuggets and patties.72

CDC advises refrigerating or freezing leftover chicken within 2 hours, or within 1 hour if it sits somewhere above 90 °F, such as a hot car or a picnic.1

CDC also warns never to place cooked food on a plate, cutting board or other surface that previously held raw chicken.1

Rules that apply here

The 2-hour ruleFreezing and refreezingReheating to 165 °FFridge and freezer temperature
Raw chickenGround beefCooked rice

Sources

  1. Chicken and Food Poisoning | Food Safety | CDC. CDC. Dated 2024-04-29. Checked 2026-10-24. Refrigerate or freeze leftover chicken within 2 hours (or within 1 hour if the food is exposed to temperatures above 90°FKeep raw chicken and its juices away from ready-to-eat foods, like salads or food that is already cooked.Never place cooked food or fresh produce on a plate, cutting board, or other surface that previously held raw chicken.
  2. REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER STORAGE CHART. FDA. Dated 2018-03-01. Checked 2026-10-24. Pieces, plain 3 - 4 days 4 monthsCooked poultry dishes 3 - 4 days 4 - 6 monthsPieces covered with broth, gravy 3 - 4 days 6 monthsFried chicken 3 - 4 days 4 monthsChicken nuggets, patties 3 - 4 days 1 - 3 months
  3. Freezer Storage | Food Safety | Illinois Extension | Illinois. University of Illinois Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Cooked Poultry 4 to 6 monthsChicken Nuggets and Patties 1 to 3 months
  4. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 135: Cooked poultry dishes. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Cooked poultry dishes. Refrigerate: 3-4 Days; Freeze: 4-6 Months
  5. Preventing Food Poisoning | Food Safety | CDC. CDC. Dated 2025-11-24. Checked 2026-10-24. Never leave perishable food out for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour if exposed to temperatures above 90°F).
  6. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 136: Fried chicken. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Fried chicken. Refrigerate: 3-4 Days; Freeze: 4 Months
  7. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 134: Chicken nuggets, patties. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Chicken nuggets, patties. Refrigerate_After_Thawing: 1-2 Days; DOP_Freeze: 1-3 Months