Chicken sell-by date question

[v]

I bought drumsticks that have a sell-by date of 9/26.  They will be eaten on the 21st.  Can they stay in my fridge until then, or should I freeze them today and thaw them out on the 20th?

I never realized that raw chicken has such a long grocery store shelf life... But I don't know if shlepping it home and having it in my own fridge makes it go bad quicker.

[sjh722]

That almost sounds like a typo. I'd freeze. I can't imagine keeping raw chicken for 10+ days.

[mbcdefg]

Freeze them

[ESF]

Sept 15, 2014 15:10:27 GMT -5 sjh722 said:

That almost sounds like a typo. I'd freeze. I can't imagine keeping raw chicken for 10+ days.

Ditto.

Actually, I would bring them back. Since it is obviously a typo, you have no idea how long they've been sitting around. I pretty much always say "yes" in the "would you eat this" threads, but I would not eat these.

[Deleted]

It doesn't have that long a shelf life. That is a typo for sure. I would exchange them if you can.

[v]

Okay, so suppose I was to freeze them tonight -- you guys still think that's risky? Taking them back would take about an hour of walking (or a half an hour and $5 of subwaying) and they only cost like $4 so returning them doesn't really make sense, but I'd hate to just throw them away if they're fine.

[Deleted]

Open them up, see how they smell. If fresh, freeze in freezer bags.

Chicken is always pretty easy to tell when it's turned by smell.

[sjh722]

Sept 15, 2014 16:21:30 GMT -5 @kcpokergal said:

Open them up, see how they smell. If fresh, freeze in freezer bags.

Chicken is always pretty easy to tell when it's turned by smell.

Yep.

[aurora]

Sept 15, 2014 16:21:30 GMT -5 @kcpokergal said:

Open them up, see how they smell. If fresh, freeze in freezer bags.

Chicken is always pretty easy to tell when it's turned by smell.

This is what I would do.  The time to go buy more or exchange them would bother me more than the money.

[LoveTrains]

I'll be the rebel. I wouldn't freeze them.

[Deleted]

I wouldn't freeze them if they are nitrogen packed they last a really long time. Likely not a typo.

[lindyanne]

I was just coming in to say the same thing as ginger. Web mans individually packs their chicken and some other meat in special stay fresh packaging. I don't leave it out that kong but the sell/use by date is really far out.

[v]

They smelled fine, and I froze them. If I go missing next week, just assume it was a bad gamble

[CloudBee]

You cook?

[v]

Sept 16, 2014 6:57:52 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

You cook?

Sort of!  My repertoire is limited, but I cook dinner probably 4 times a week.

These are for the Giants game on Sunday.  It will be my first time grilling.