592928 Mon Feb 02 13:37:36 -0800 2009 4 31 Home Cooking 0 4381112 My wife and I had an umm disagreement the other day. I had a 6 day old roasted chicken in the fridge that I was going to eat. She said that she thought it too old to be safe. I said, basically it is cooked, as long as it smells ok, it should be ok. When I pointed out that we eat lunch meat that is that old all the time, she said that is because it is full of preservatives (which i don't think is always the case). Nevertheless, I ate the chicken, the wife and kids stayed away and no ones mind was changed. So, is there a rule of thumb for leftover poultry? Anyone? Mon Feb 02 13:37:36 -0800 2009 60603 TroyTempest 1 4381125 Well, I would have thought it was too old, but after my husband ate 10 day old chicken pot pie, with no ill effects, I'm not sure any more! Mon Feb 02 13:42:19 -0800 2009 4381112 10985 MMRuth 2 4381154 your husband sounds like a man after my own heart. Mon Feb 02 13:47:07 -0800 2009 4381125 60603 TroyTempest 1 4381139 If it didn't sit out cooling for too long, was adequately wrapped in the fridge, wasn't exposed to a lot of bacteria, it would probably be OK. Wouldn't go too much further though. Mon Feb 02 13:45:16 -0800 2009 4381112 22725 AHan 1 4381183 Aside from how long it sat out without refrigeration, the amount of salt makes a LOT of difference. If I cook chicken from scratch, I don't use much, and leftovers start to smell sour in a few days. Home-brined chicken leftovers last a couple of days longer. Last summer I brought home a Costco rotisserie chicken but since I overbought, it sat unused in the fridge, in its original container, for a week. By the time I opened it I was expecting I'd be boiling it up and feeding it to the dogs, but to my surprise it smelled and tasted fine. I took it apart and removed the bones and skin, which went into the freezer for future stock-making, then froze what remained after dinner in individual portions. The Costco birds taste saltier than ones I cook myself. Mon Feb 02 13:52:27 -0800 2009 4381112 159317 greygarious