how long is safe to marinate chicken?

[SField]

I was just going to quickly marinate some chicken last night for dinner. I made the marinade and it has been sitting there since 6pm last night. It's now 8pm the next day, and I still haven't cooked it. Could it go another day?

 

[Manton]

You mean the marinade has been at room temp for 26 hours? I guess it partly depends on what's in it, for instance a ton of vinegar might act as a preservative.

But I wouldn't risk it.

 

[SField]

Originally Posted by Manton

You mean the marinade has been at room temp for 26 hours? I guess it partly depends on what's in it, for instance a ton of vinegar might act as a preservative.

But I wouldn't risk it.

No, the chicken has been in a ziplock, in the marinade, in the fridge for all this time.

I have marinated red meat for this kind of time, but never chicken.

 

[kwilkinson]

Depends on the acidity of the marinade. If it's very acidic, I wouldn't even do chicken overnight.

 

[dizzhizz]

you're all good.

 

[Manton]

Oh.

Then what are you worried about? Should be fine.

 

[holymadness]

24 hours in the fridge is fine. 48 is pushing it, but I've done it before with no ill effects. I throw out anything older than that.

 

[Spatlese]

^ I've also pushed it to two days (due to forgetfulness a couple of times) but no longer than that either. On that thought, I wonder sometimes how long the marinated meats you see in your typical supermarket butcher have been there for. I will never attempt to find out.

 

[IUtoSLU]

I'm no expert, but the fridge for 26 hours is fine. I say go for it.

 

[otc]

In terms of food safety, you are fine.

In terms of cooking it, that could be a little long for marinating a chicken but you should be ok.

If it comes out tasting bad, you know for next time

 

[juicemakesugar]

Too much acid will cook the chicken...too much salt will dry out the chicken

 

[GQgeek]

i read "how long is it safe to marinate children?"

lol.

 

[VKK3450]

Originally Posted by Spatlese

^ I've also pushed it to two days (due to forgetfulness a couple of times) but no longer than that either. On that thought, I wonder sometimes how long the marinated meats you see in your typical supermarket butcher have been there for. I will never attempt to find out.


Whats fucked is that I'm guessing they use slightly "off" pieces of meat for those premarinated products. Means you are already playing with fire.

K

 

[montyharding]

Originally Posted by VKK3450

Whats fucked is that I'm guessing they use slightly "off" pieces of meat for those premarinated products. Means you are already playing with fire.

K

Unless it's actually 'off' I doubt it. My guess is that they use something to accelerate the marinating process - which is probably bad for you

 

[lee_44106]

Chicken marinaded in fridge for <48hrs is still OK. I have personally done it. No side effects, I'm still alive.

I've marinaded beef for about 3 days and it was also OK.

Or maybe I'm just lucky?