Defrosted chicken in fridge for 3 days

While thawed meat can stay safe to eat for the time frames listed above, it'll need to be stored properly to do so. Essentially, you'll want to defrost your protein in the fridge if you want to store it after it's supple again.

If you thaw it in cold water or the microwave (which you may want to reconsider doing anyway), the USDA advises cooking it immediately. And even if you place your frozen meat in the fridge overnight, make sure to keep it there until you're ready to cook.

Once it enters warmer air — anything between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit — it's easy for bacteria to grow.

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But let's say you've defrosted your ground beef, and later realize you won't be whipping up hamburgers for another week.

How long after defrosting ground beef should it be cooked

In this case, it is possible to refreeze the meat, but only if you've thawed it in the fridge, and only if you're still within the time frame where it hasn't gone bad. However, be prepared for a slight potential loss in quality.

Refrozen proteins may become drier due to oxidation, and you may notice a change i

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