If you're poking chicken in a food container from meal days gone by, you might be wondering if it's safe to eat. Poultry is a higher-risk meat than beef due to its propensity to develop E. coli and other food-borne illnesses. That's why you never want to eat spoiled chicken, and storing it properly is the key to avoiding sickness.

But that begs the question: how long does it take for chicken to spoil and how long can you wait before it's too late?

The USDA gives raw chicken just 48 hours to be cooked and consumed after purchase, but that timeframe errs on the safe side and isn't the final word on when a bird goes bad. Cooked chicken has a longer fridge-life and a lower risk of serious food poisoning, but even chicken in its cooked form has limits.

If you're wondering whether or not y

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