Hello Ritu,
According to standard food safety guidelines established by the USDA and food safety experts, cooked chicken can be safely stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days when held at a standard temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) or lower. While storing your air-fried chicken in airtight glass containers is ideal for preserving quality and preventing cross-contamination, it does not extend this baseline microbiological safety window.
Because you prepare your batch meals on Sunday, your precise cutoff point is Wednesday (for the 3-day mark) or Thursday evening at the absolute latest (for the 4-day mark). After day four, the risk of foodborne pathogens like Salmonella, Listeria, and Staphylococcus aureus multiplying to hazardous levels increases significantly, often without producing any noticeable change in smell, texture, or appearance.
To manage your workweek meals effectively without throwing food away, I recommend a simple split strategy on Sunday: place the portions you plan to consume through Wednesday or Thursday in your glass containers in the fridge, and immediately freeze the rest. Cooked chicken freezes exceptionally well for 3 to 4 months. You can simply transfer a portion from the freezer to the fridge the night before you intend to serve it, allowing you to enjoy fresh-tasting meals all week long with complete peace of mind.
