Chicken may appear to be pinker or take on a bright white hue, whereas beef can turn a shade of brown. In these instances you might be inclined to toss your meat, but USDA officials say that any meat affected by freezer burn is safe to eat.
Storing Chicken in the Fridge No need to stash it in the freezer — it’s OK to store raw chicken (whole or in pieces) for 1–2 days in the fridge. If you have leftovers that include cooked chicken, you can expect those to last in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.
I usually pull the meat from the carcass after we finish dinner, but I was tired, so I covered the entire bird and pan with foil and put it in the refrigerator. … However, if your chicken had cooled to room temperature while you were serving it, it’s less risky to put it in the refrigerator whole.