Making buffalo chicken dip at home is great fun and it makes a good lunch option, but you need to think about the food safety aspect of it too. How long can you keep this kind of dip if it stays chilled? What happens if you leave it on the counter? It contains meat, so you do need to make sure that you are storing it correctly.
How long does buffalo chicken dip last in the fridge? Buffalo chicken dip should stay good for up to five days in the fridge if you have used very fresh ingredients to begin with, but it is important to be careful and use it up more quickly if you think it is starting to go bad. Don’t eat buffalo chicken dip if it smells odd or has become more liquid than it was when freshly made.
How Long Will Buffalo Chicken Dip Last When Refrigerated?
Buffalo chicken dip will remain edible for four or five days if kept chilled, especially if you have used very fresh ingredients. If any of your ingredients were less fresh, it may only be okay for about three days, so be aware of this when you are making the dip. Don’t use old ingredients if you want it to last well.
You should keep buffalo chicken dip in an airtight container in the fridge. A Tupperware is often the best option as this will reduce the airflow. Make sure your container is very clean before you transfer the dip to it, or its longevity may be reduced.
Can You Leave Buffalo Chicken Dip at Room Temperature?
No, buffalo chicken dip must be kept refrigerated at all times. Do not leave it on the counter or table. If it stands out for more than two hours, it should be thrown away. In hot temperatures (above 90 degrees F), refrigerate it within an hour, or discard it.
Like most meat products, buffalo chicken dip needs to be kept chilled in order to reduce the spread of bacteria. When it is warm, bacteria will multiply far more quickly, growing in the dip and compromising it.
Dip that has been kept at room temperature for more than two hours may have dangerous levels of bacteria in it. You could get food poisoning from it, so it is best to throw it away at this point. If the dip has been left out overnight, it certainly needs to be discarded.
Can You Reheat Buffalo Chicken Dip?
You reheat buffalo chicken dip that has been stored in the fridge, but it is best to only do this once if possible. Ideally, you will make the dip, chill it, and then only reheat it in portions according to what you will use. Reheating, cooling, and reheating the dip multiple times invites bacterial spread, and it may make you sick.
Some people will reheat the dip multiple times, and it is not guaranteed to make you sick, but food safety guidelines suggest only reheating meat products once. It’s therefore best to serve a small amount of the dip into a container for reheating, rather than warming the entire container.
Can You Store Warm Buffalo Chicken Dip in the Fridge?
Do not put hot or warm buffalo chicken dip in your fridge at any time. Foods should always be cooled to room temperature before you refrigerate them, as warm foods may compromise the safety of other foods in your fridge.
If you put warm buffalo chicken dip in your fridge, it will raise the overall temperature of the fridge. This may not be significant, but it can be enough to mean that you are not following food safety guidelines.
The dip will output heat as it cools, and this may make other foods in the fridge unsafe. It is therefore best to leave the dip on the counter until it has cooled. If you have made a large amount, tip it into a shallow container and stand this in a tray of cold water to encourage swift cooling.
As soon as the dip has cooled, transfer it to an airtight container and place it in the fridge.
Can You Eat Buffalo Chicken Dip Cold?
Yes, it is safe to eat buffalo chicken dip cold, although many people prefer to heat it. As long as the dip has been stored correctly below 40 degrees F, there is no need to reheat it before you consume it.
How Do You Know If Buffalo Chicken Dip Has Gone Bad?
The best way to check if the chicken dip is still okay to eat is to inspect the surface carefully and smell the dip. You may want to stir it to encourage the aroma to spread, especially if it is cold, or it may not have an obvious scent.
If the dip smells sandy or sour, or it has any flecks of blue, green, or white on the surface, it may no longer be safe to eat. Equally, if the dip has started to separate and there is liquid sitting on the top, you may wish to throw it away.
Any change in the color may also indicate that the dip has gone bad. If in doubt, it’s best to throw it away, because meat can harbor unpleasant bacteria that could make you very sick.
Can You Freeze Buffalo Chicken Dip?
It’s fine to freeze buffalo chicken dip, as long as it is still fresh. Don’t freeze any dip that has been in the fridge for more than a couple of days, as it will not keep well.
To freeze this kind of dip, tip it into a freezer-safe container and seal it before putting it in your freezer. You can then thaw it in the fridge overnight and bake as normal.
Final Thoughts
Buffalo chicken dip should last for up to five days in the fridge, and will keep better if you use very fresh ingredients. Avoid using old chicken or sour cream for it if you want it to keep well, and ensure that it is transferred to the fridge as soon as it is cool enough.