Chicken offers an inexpensive source of protein for your body. It tastes great when cooked and spiced correctly and is delicious in most recipes. You can grill your chicken outside, bake it in the oven, pan it on the stove or cook it in the crockpot. One of the most versatile ways to use chicken is shredded.
In the fridge, uncooked shredded chicken can last up to two days. Once cooked, it can last three to four days. Frozen shredded chicken can maintain its flavor for up to three months. Refrigerate the shredded chicken with a cup of the poaching liquid to keep it moist and juicy.
Enjoy shredded chicken or use it cold in sandwiches, wraps, and salads. This chicken is best prepared with boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts. White meat is better, but the fat helps prevent your shredded meat from drying.
How Long Does Shredded Chicken Last in the Fridge?
In the fridge, uncooked shredded chicken can last up to two days. Once cooked, enjoy your chicken within three to four days. Put the chicken in the freezer if you can’t use it within those timeframes.
For the best taste, use frozen shredded chicken within four months. If properly packaged, frozen shredded chicken maintains its flavor for up to a year.
How to Prevent Shredded Chicken from Drying Out
If you want to keep your shredded chicken moist and juicy, refrigerate it in an airtight container with a cup of the poaching liquid.
Add several tablespoons of water or chicken stock to the pan to keep your cooked chicken nice and moist the next day. Use a double layer of foil to cover the pan. The steam originating from the water will help your shredded chicken remain moist.
Has Your Shredded Chicken Gone Bad? Here’s How to Tell
Smell
A quick smell test will tell you if something is wrong when dealing with shredded chicken. Shredded chicken should have a minimal aroma, and a strong smell is a warning sign. If the odor is sour, fishy, or sulfur-like, that chicken is no longer safe for consumption.
Appearance
If your shredded chicken has spoiled, you’ll see signs of spoilage. The chicken is likely, not fresh if the flesh looks faded or dull. Any discoloration or dark spots indicate your chicken has gone bad.
Touch
Raw chicken should feel slightly slippery. If the slipperiness remains after rinsing, it’s a sign your shredded chicken has spoiled.
Dangers of Eating Spoiled Chicken
Chicken food poisoning is arguably the most common type of food poisoning. In most cases, food poisoning occurs because:
- Eating stale chicken.
- Using the same chopping board for cooked and raw chicken.
- Allowing juices from cooked chicken to drop onto cooked chicken or other food types.
- Failure to cook chicken for the recommended length of time.
Symptoms of Chicken Food Poisoning
In most cases, chicken food poisoning symptoms appear between 24 and 48 hours. These symptoms include:
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Abdominal pains
Most cases of chicken food poisoning clear after a few days, but severe cases will require medical attention.
How to Prevent Chicken Food Poisoning?
Here are simple tips on how to prevent chicken food poisoning:
- Wash your hands before and after handling chicken.
- Set your fridge to the right before storing chicken.
- Keep raw and cooked chicken separate.
- Ensure you defrost any frozen chicken thoroughly.
How to Shred Chicken
Before exploring creative ways to use up your shredded chicken, here are quick and easy methods for shredding your chicken:
- Your Hands: This is the recommended method for shredding any chicken, including cooked chicken drumsticks, breasts, or whole roasted chicken. If using this method, ensure the chicken is cool enough to handle but still warm before shredding.
- Two Forks: This is also an excellent method of shredding chicken, especially if you want to keep things cleaner.
- A Hand Mixer: Use a hand mixer (on Amazon) when shredding boneless chicken breasts or thighs
- A Stand Mixer: You can also use a stand mixer (on Amazon) for boneless chicken breasts or thighs.
Creative Ways to Use Up Your Shredded Chicken
Here are endless ways to use up your shredded chicken:
- You can add it to pizza.
- Combine the shredded chicken quinoa salad or pasta salad to make it a main dish.
- Use as a protein boost for grain bowls.
- Make chicken tacos, enchiladas, nachos, burritos etc.
- Use to make chicken skillet with veggies.
- Use it as a quick chicken curry.
- Make a chicken salad for wraps and sandwiches.
- Make a casserole like chicken and rice casserole.