In this article, we will answer the question "How long can you keep the raw liver in the fridge?", and how to freeze and thaw the liver?

This article also includes the storage timelines of meat and meat products, fish and seafood, and poultry.

How long can you keep the raw liver in the fridge?

The raw liver can be safely kept for 1-2 days in the fridge. Keeping the raw liver in its original packaging will make it last longer. Therefore, tear it open right before use. The raw liver that has been sitting out for more than 2 hours on the counter is unsafe for consumption.

Refrigerator storage of meats

The following table shows an estimated shelf-life of meat and meat products in the fridge and freezer.

Meats In Refrigerator 35-40°F In Freezer 0°F
Raw roasts, steaks, chops, smoked 3-5 days 4-12 months
Raw livers, raw heart, raw kidneys, and other variety meats 1-2 days 3-4 months
Raw ground meat 1-2 days 3-4 months
Sliced bacon 3-5 days, opened2 weeks, unopened 1 month
Lunchmeat 7 days 1-2 months
Cooked meat dishes and leftovers 3-4 days 2-3 months

Refrigerator storage of poultry

The following table shows an estimated shelf-life of poultry and related products in the fridge and freezer.

Poultry In Refrigerator 35-40°F In Freezer 0°F
Fresh poultry 1-2 days 9-12 months
Cooked poultry, leftovers 3-4 days, unless covered in broth or gravy, then 1-2 days 4-6 months

Refrigerator storage of fish and meat

The following table shows an estimated shelf-life of fish and seafood in the fridge and freezer.

Fish On Refrigerator Shelves 35-40°F In Freezer 0°F
Fresh fish 1-2 days. Keep shellfish to be eaten raw for only a few hours. 2- months
Cooked fish 3-4 days 4-6 months
Fresh shrimp, scallops, crawfish, squid 1-2 days 3-6 months

Can you freeze raw liver?

Yes, you can freeze raw or cooked liver. It might be obvious for you If you have bought liver from the frozen section of the market.

The liver freezes really well and it is a great method to prolong its shelf-life and preserve its freshness. Use the frozen liver within 3-6 months of storage for peak quality.

How to freeze chicken liver?

How well the chicken liver freezes quite often depends upon how it was cooked and prepared. For example, pâté adapts well to the freezing environment. But this might not be the case with every recipe so the freezing fresh chicken liver is preferred in most cases.

How to freeze livers?

Freezing livers does not have to be a hassle. Make sure you have enough space in the freezer and grab some paper towels, freezer bags, or containers. Then follow the steps below to successfully freeze the liver.

Drain excess liquids: Pat dry the livers to get rid of that excess moisture on the surface. This is important because this moisture will form ice crystals during freezing and ruin the texture of the liver when thawed.

Portion the meat: Divide the livers into dish-size portions. This will let you thaw only as much eat as you need at a time.

Package: original packaging is best. However, if that was torn open, you can work with freezer bags or air-tight containers as well. Freezer bags take up less space than containers. If you opt for the freezer bag, remove as much air as possible from the bag by pressing it.

Label and freezer: Putting a clear label on the container or the bag will let you know how long the liver has been frozen. Plus it also helps with the identification because all the meat products look pretty much the same once frozen.

How to thaw frozen livers?

The safest way to thaw frozen livers is to leave them overnight in the fridge. There are quick ways to defrost frozen liver as well but they aren't recommended.

One of them involves submerging the bag or container of frozen livers in lukewarm tap water. Change the water when it gets too cold. It only takes about 3-6 hours to thaw frozen liver this way.

How to use frozen and thawed livers?

Frozen livers can be used the same way as fresh livers. The simplest most beginner way to cook liver is fried liver served with sauteed onions.

This dish is ready in under 30 minutes. Besides, dishes like pâtés, stews, or fried chicken livers, using defrosted livers are all good ways to use it.

Conclusion

In this article, we answered the question "How long can you keep the raw liver in the fridge?", and how to freeze and thaw the liver?

References

https://web.extension.illinois.edu/meatsafety/storage.cfm

https://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/16493

https://www.canyoufreezethis.com/can-you-freeze-liver/

Hi, I am Charlotte, I love cooking and in my previous life, I was a chef. I bring some of my experience to the recipes on this hub and answer your food questions.