When I purchase a hot whole roasted chicken at a grocery store and
bring it home, should I immediately put it in the refrigerator or let
it cool down first? In the past I would put the entire chicken (in its
clear plastic container) in the refrigerator when I arrived home.

Looking around the Internet I see it is recommended to cut the chicken
into smaller pieces and then put the pieces in the refrigerator. The
smaller portions will cool faster.

Also, how many days will this chicken last in the refrigerator before I
should throw it away?

Any advice how to handle this situation is appreciated.

Terry

wrote in message
ups.com...
When I purchase a hot whole roasted chicken at a grocery store and
bring it home, should I immediately put it in the refrigerator or let
it cool down first? In the past I would put the entire chicken (in its
clear plastic container) in the refrigerator when I arrived home.

Looking around the Internet I see it is recommended to cut the chicken
into smaller pieces and then put the pieces in the refrigerator. The
smaller portions will cool faster.

Also, how many days will this chicken last in the refrigerator before I
should throw it away?

Any advice how to handle this situation is appreciated.

Terry

I'd bring it home, eat what I wanted for dinner. By that time you've eaten
all the warm chicken, it will have cooled enough to put in the refrigerator.
The next morning I would decide if I wanted to eat more that day. If I
didn't, I would freeze it all. If I wanted to eat a portion of it that day,
I would save that part out for the day and freeze the rest right then and
there.
Dee Dee

wrote:

When I purchase a hot whole roasted chicken at a grocery store and
bring it home, should I immediately put it in the refrigerator or let
it cool down first? In the past I would put the entire chicken (in its
clear plastic container) in the refrigerator when I arrived home.

Looking around the Internet I see it is recommended to cut the chicken
into smaller pieces and then put the pieces in the refrigerator. The
smaller portions will cool faster.

Also, how many days will this chicken last in the refrigerator before I
should throw it away?

Any advice how to handle this situation is appreciated.

Terry

Terry,
Here's what my wife does with cooked chicken from the grocery store, or any
hot food item for that matter. We let the item cool down for about 45
minutes more or less. Chicken is usually cut into parts and packaged (zip
lock bags) individually or to make for a serving for two. Once in the
fridge, we do not keep them more than 3 to 4 days - if we want to keep them
beyond 4 days, we freeze whatever it is at the time we cut them up.

Cheers and happy storing,

Ray
Austin, TX
===

On Sun 30 Apr 2006 05:39:55p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it ?

When I purchase a hot whole roasted chicken at a grocery store and
bring it home, should I immediately put it in the refrigerator or let
it cool down first? In the past I would put the entire chicken (in its
clear plastic container) in the refrigerator when I arrived home.

Looking around the Internet I see it is recommended to cut the chicken
into smaller pieces and then put the pieces in the refrigerator. The
smaller portions will cool faster.

Also, how many days will this chicken last in the refrigerator before I
should throw it away?

Any advice how to handle this situation is appreciated.

I'm sure you will get different answers than mine, from those either more
or less phobic about storing refrigerated food, but this works for me...

I would allow it to cool to lukewarm before refrigerating. I would
definitely not cut it up, unless you're eating some portion of it before
storing Simply not necessary, that is, unless it's stuffed. Should it
happen to be stuffed, the stuffing needs to be removed and stored
separately, and in that case I would also cut the meat in pieces.

I have a 3-day rule for poultry stored in the refrigerator. I toss the
remainder on the 4th day, mainly because I don't like the taste. It would
probably be safe a day or two longer.



--
Wayne Boatwright @¿@¬
_____________________

wrote:
When I purchase a hot whole roasted chicken at a grocery store and
bring it home, should I immediately put it in the refrigerator or let
it cool down first? In the past I would put the entire chicken (in its
clear plastic container) in the refrigerator when I arrived home.

Looking around the Internet I see it is recommended to cut the chicken
into smaller pieces and then put the pieces in the refrigerator. The
smaller portions will cool faster.

Also, how many days will this chicken last in the refrigerator before I
should throw it away?

Any advice how to handle this situation is appreciated.

Whack off how much you're gonna eat and refrigerate the rest, should be
fine in the fridge for 3-4 days. Of course here, with six cats, one of
those tiny stupidmarket deli chickens wouldn't last but one meal...
sheesh, I'd be lucky to get enough.

wrote:
When I purchase a hot whole roasted chicken at a grocery store and
bring it home, should I immediately put it in the refrigerator or let
it cool down first? In the past I would put the entire chicken (in its
clear plastic container) in the refrigerator when I arrived home.

Looking around the Internet I see it is recommended to cut the chicken
into smaller pieces and then put the pieces in the refrigerator. The
smaller portions will cool faster.

Just so you're clear on the main point: the only reason to let
anything cool down before you refrigerate it is to avoid warming the
refrigerator and all its other contents too much. A single chicken, by
the time you get it home, will already have cooled enough so that this
is not going to be a problem. So there's no real point in waiting.

Also, how many days will this chicken last in the refrigerator before I
should throw it away?

Up to a week, I suppose, but if it's any good you'll have finished it
before then. -aem

On 30 Apr 2006 17:39:55 -0700, wrote:

When I purchase a hot whole roasted chicken at a grocery store and
bring it home, should I immediately put it in the refrigerator or let
it cool down first? In the past I would put the entire chicken (in its
clear plastic container) in the refrigerator when I arrived home.

Looking around the Internet I see it is recommended to cut the chicken
into smaller pieces and then put the pieces in the refrigerator. The
smaller portions will cool faster.

Also, how many days will this chicken last in the refrigerator before I
should throw it away?

Any advice how to handle this situation is appreciated.

Terry

When we get it home I cut off anything we want to eat right away (it's
usually lunchtime or dinner time!) then the rest goes right into the
fridge in its container. No need to cut it up... it's usually only
lukewarm anyway. We try to eat the rest in 3 or 4 days and if it gets
to the end of day 5 and it's still sitting there I toss it in the
trash.

"Wayne Boatwright" wayneboatwright_at_gmail.com wrote in message
28.19...
On Sun 30 Apr 2006 05:39:55p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it ?

When I purchase a hot whole roasted chicken at a grocery store and
bring it home, should I immediately put it in the refrigerator or let
it cool down first? In the past I would put the entire chicken (in its
clear plastic container) in the refrigerator when I arrived home.

Looking around the Internet I see it is recommended to cut the chicken
into smaller pieces and then put the pieces in the refrigerator. The
smaller portions will cool faster.

Also, how many days will this chicken last in the refrigerator before I
should throw it away?

Any advice how to handle this situation is appreciated.

I'm sure you will get different answers than mine, from those either more
or less phobic about storing refrigerated food, but this works for me...

I would allow it to cool to lukewarm before refrigerating. I would
definitely not cut it up, unless you're eating some portion of it before
storing Simply not necessary, that is, unless it's stuffed. Should it
happen to be stuffed, the stuffing needs to be removed and stored
separately, and in that case I would also cut the meat in pieces.

I have a 3-day rule for poultry stored in the refrigerator. I toss the
remainder on the 4th day, mainly because I don't like the taste. It would
probably be safe a day or two longer.



--
Wayne Boatwright @¿@¬
_____________________

I have a 3-day rule for absolutely everything I cook, so I try to get it in
the freezer much before then -- if I'm feeling frugal.
Funny thing, I'll ask DH if he's wanting something before I throw it out --
he says yes, but usually doesn't eat it either past my deadline.
Dee Dee

"aem" wrote in message

Just so you're clear on the main point: the only reason to let
anything cool down before you refrigerate it is to avoid warming the
refrigerator and all its other contents too much. A single chicken, by
the time you get it home, will already have cooled enough so that this
is not going to be a problem. So there's no real point in waiting.

50 years ago that would be a problem. Today, modern refrigeration units can
handle the load easily. Sure, don't put that 170 degree bird in, but no need
to wait very long at all. Unless you still have an ice box

On 30 Apr 2006 17:39:55 -0700, wrote:

When I purchase a hot whole roasted chicken at a grocery store and
bring it home, should I immediately put it in the refrigerator or let
it cool down first? In the past I would put the entire chicken (in its
clear plastic container) in the refrigerator when I arrived home.

We generally eat the chicken when we get it home. I can't see the
point in buying a hot roasted chicken if it's just going to get stuck
in the fridge.

Looking around the Internet I see it is recommended to cut the chicken
into smaller pieces and then put the pieces in the refrigerator. The
smaller portions will cool faster.

Also, how many days will this chicken last in the refrigerator before I
should throw it away?

Any advice how to handle this situation is appreciated.

Wait until you are actually going to *eat the chicken* then buy it,
bring it home, and eat it. No refrigeration required.

Jo Anne