1. Refrigerate promptly: If you don’t plan to eat the chicken salad immediately, refrigerate it within 2 hours of preparing it. Bacteria can grow rapidly at room temperature, so it’s important to refrigerate it as soon as possible.
2. Use an airtight container: Store the chicken salad in an airtight container to keep it fresh and prevent it from absorbing odors from other foods in the fridge.
3. Keep it chilled: Make sure the container is placed in the coldest part of the refrigerator, usually the back of the bottom shelf. Keeping it chilled will help prevent the growth of bacteria.
4. Use within 3-4 days: Chicken salad can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. After that, it should be discarded to prevent foodborne illness.
5. Do not freeze: Chicken salad does not freeze well due to its mayonnaise-based dressing. Freezing can cause the mayonnaise to separate and the chicken to become rubbery.
By following these tips, you can store your chicken salad recipe safely and enjoy it for several days.