Do you have to remove the meat from bone before refrigerating cooked chicken?

* Faster Cooling: Meat on the bone cools down more slowly, increasing the risk of bacteria growth. Removing the meat allows for faster and more even cooling.

* Easier Storage: Separating the meat from the bone allows for more efficient storage in containers or bags.

* Easier Reheating: Having the meat off the bone makes reheating quicker and easier.

Exceptions:

* If you plan to use the bones for stock: You can refrigerate the whole chicken for this purpose.

* If the chicken is a whole roasted bird: You can refrigerate the whole bird, but it's recommended to remove the meat from the bone as soon as possible after cooling.

Key takeaway: While not strictly necessary, removing the meat from the bone before refrigerating cooked chicken is generally a good practice for safety and convenience.