Raw chicken sell-by date 12 days after actual purchase?

Cafe Society
1

I bought some raw chicken breast when I went grocery shopping on Saturday, August 3. Yesterday (Aug. 7) I went to put it in the freezer, since I always either cook or freeze raw meat within 4 days.

Just in case, I checked the sell-by date to make sure it was at least that day’s date, and was surprised to see it was August 15. How can that possibly be? Could it be irradiated or something? Treated with some kind of disinfectant to keep it fresh longer? I don’t understand how chicken can have a sell-by date almost 2 weeks out.

2

I use a Stop and Shop for most of my grocery shopping and their meat is pretty much in vacuum packs now. It seems to really keep the meat a lot longer.

Was your chicken vacuum packed?

3

No, it’s in a styrofoam or plastic tray and covered in shrink-wrapped plastic. Tightly sealed, but I wouldn’t say vacuum-sealed-- there are air gaps in the packaging.

4

I buy organic chicken from Costco all the time and it is vacuum packed with expiration dates about two weeks out that at first suprised me. I doubt that has been treated with chemical or irradiated since it is labeled as organic.

But maybe I’ve come to trust Costco too much. :yum:

5

We’ve bought vacuum-packed meat from Costco with long expiry dates as well, but as mentioned this was just raw chicken breast on one of those styrofoam or plastic trays, covered with clear shrink-wrapped plastic. Not vacuum-sealed.

6

I worry about poultry. Probably too much.

Sell by dates are not actually equal to my personal use by dates. If it doesn’t get used the day of purchase or the next day, it goes in the freezer.

I assume your chicken is ok, if kept refrigerated in a properly temp controlled fridge.

7

I probably should worry more. I tried chicken sashimi a few years ago just for the experience. It was. . . . different. There was underlying squeamishness despite trusting the chef.

Likely will not try it again.