How Long Does Smoked Chicken Last?

Smoked chicken is a delicious and versatile protein that can be used in a variety of dishes, from salads to sandwiches and beyond. Whether you've smoked it yourself or bought it from a local deli, you'll want to know how long you can safely store it in your refrigerator. In this guide, we'll explore the factors that affect the shelf life of smoked chicken, storage tips, and how to tell if it has gone bad.

Smoked Chicken

I’m a huge fan of smoking a whole chicken on my Traeger grill. It’s so easy to do, and it's a great way to meal prep. I store the smoked chicken in the fridge and use it for a quick lunch or I add it to my Chicken Enchiladas, or Chicken Noodle Soup or I just eat it as is paired with Roasted Veggies.

Different Smoking Methods

When we first purchased our Traeger Grill, I had no idea how many methods there were for smoking. Below we will discuss the differences between hot smoking, warm smoking, cold smoking, and smoke roasting.

Hot Smoking

Hot smoking is a preparation method that uses smoke and heat simultaneously to cook the meat. Typically hot smoked meat will cook at a temperature between 190 degrees and 300 degrees Fahrenheit. This cooking technique is commonly used for preparing smoked meats such as barbecue, smoked sausages, smoked chicken, and smoked brisket.

Warm Smoking

Warm smoking is a smoking technique that falls between hot smoking and cold smoking in terms of temperature. The temperature for warm smoking meats typically ranges between 70 degrees and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Warm smoking is often used for foods like smoked salmon, smoked cheese, or sausages, where the goal is to impart a smoky flavor while maintaining a moist and tender texture. However, it's important to handle warm-smoked meats with care, as they are not fully cooked and must be either consumed promptly or finished through another cooking method to ensure they are safe to eat.

Cold Smoking

Cold smoking meat is a method you can play around with if your goal is to flavor and preserve meats, fish, or cheese without cooking them.

Unlike hot smoking, where the meat is both smoked and cooked at a higher temperature, the cold smoking method exposes the food to a lower temperature, which is typically below 85°F. This cooking process imparts a smoky flavor while allowing the food to remain raw or partially cured.

Smoke Roasting

Smoke roasting is popular amongst Barbeque experts, as it combines both smoking and roasting. You will typically see foods like chicken breasts, brisket, turkey, ribs, and even vegetables cooked using this method. The food is cooked between 225 degrees to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and provides a nice smoke flavor.

Storage Tips

Proper storage is crucial in maintaining the flavor, texture, and food safety of smoked meats. Here are steps on how to store smoked chicken:

Cool It Down: After smoking the chicken, always allow the meat to cool down to room temperature for about 30 minutes. Additionally, you do not want to leave it out for a long time.

Debone & Store: Next you will want to remove all of the smoked meat from the bones, and store leftover chicken in an airtight container.

Label & Date: I can never seem to remember when I have cooked something. I like to add a label and include the date the chicken was cooked. This way I know for sure if it’s been stored longer than 3-4 days.

Refrigerator: Store the airtight container of smoked meat in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Whole chicken that is trussed with butter under the skin of the breast.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Know If My Smoked Chicken Has Gone Bad?

Smoked Chicken will typically last for 3-4 days in the fridge if stored properly. If your chicken is omitting unpleasant odors, or seems to have changed in color or texture, I’d recommend tossing it right away. It's not worth the risk of getting food poisoning, which is the last thing you want.

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Can I Freeze Smoked Chicken?

Yes, you can certainly freeze smoked chicken, in fact, I love doing this as it can be hard to eat an entire chicken in 3-4 days. To freeze smoked chicken, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil then place it in an airtight freezer bag or container. I’d also recommend that you label the package with the date. It’s easy to put something in the freezer with the best intentions, and then I completely forget about it only later to find it with freezer burn! Adding a label and date will ensure you don’t leave your smoked chicken in the freezer for a year or two! I’d recommend using the frozen smoked chicken within 3 months of storing it.

Does Smoking Preserve Meat?

Smoking meat does not actually preserve it. However, the smoking process does slow down the growth of bacteria. This is because the smoke creates a barrier on the surface of the meat that prevents bacteria from growing.

I hope this gives you a better understanding of how to preserve smoked meats!

How Long Does Smoked Chicken Last Unrefrigerated?

As a general rule of thumb, you should not leave smoked chicken unrefrigerated for more than 2 hours. If the ambient temperature is particularly hot (above 90°F or 32°C), this window shortens to just 1 hour.

Bacteria can multiply rapidly in the "danger zone," which is between 40°F (4°C) and 140°F (60°C). Leaving smoked chicken unrefrigerated for an extended period can lead to bacterial growth and the risk of foodborne illnesses.

How Do I Reheat Smoked Chicken?

If you freeze your smoked chicken, you will first need to thaw it in the refrigerator before heating it up. Once the frozen chicken has thawed, the best way I have found to reheat it is to warm it in the oven until it reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees.