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When you’re cooking at home instead of eating out, you have much more control over what goes into your meal. That’s a good thing, because restaurant food can be loaded with salt, fat, and artificial ingredients that aren’t so great for you. If you opt to cook with chicken as opposed to some other type of meat (or maybe even in addition to another type of meat), knowing how to defrost frozen chicken is crucial. Frozen chicken is available in many forms: whole birds, individual breasts or tenderloins, ground chicken, and cutlets or nuggets. Whatever form your frozen chicken comes in, it will need to be thawed before you can proceed with its ultimate preparation. The following guide explores the best ways to defrost frozen chicken so that it’s ready for whatever recipe you’ve got in mind.
What You Need to Know About Defrosting Chicken
Chicken is one of the most popular proteins in the United States, and for good reason: it’s relatively inexpensive, easy to cook, and can be used in a ton of different recipes. However, you’ll want to make sure to defrost frozen chicken properly before proceeding with its use in any recipe, because improperly defrosted chicken can result in undercooked or even unsafe meat. Defrosted chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, so even if you’re rushing to get dinner on the table, take your time when it comes to defrosting and make sure you cook the chicken properly. If you’re dealing with a large, frozen whole chicken, you’ll obviously want to plan ahead, but if you’ve got a few individual pieces of frozen chicken that you need to get ready for cooking, you can get them defrosted in an hour or two. Read on to learn more about the best ways to defrost frozen chicken at home.
Thawing Frozen Chicken in the Fridge
If your chicken is still frozen when you go to defrost it, the best option is to put it in a container and place it in the refrigerator. You’ll want to give it a few hours to thaw, and it’s best to place it on the top shelf of the fridge so the juices don’t drip on other foods and get them soggy. This is the best method for defrosting chicken when you’re planning to cook it later in the same day. If you’re defrosting chicken for a meal that’s several days away, you’ll want to read on to learn about other methods. Thawing frozen chicken in the fridge is easy, but it does take time. Plan accordingly.
Thawing Frozen Chicken in Cold Water
Another option for defrosting frozen chicken is to immerse it in cold water and change the water every 30 minutes or so. This is a good method if you’re in a rush and need the chicken ready to cook quickly. However, this method has been the subject of some debate over the years because it has been linked to the transmission of salmonella. For that reason, this method is not advised for chicken that will be eaten raw or used in a recipe that will be consumed rare. For example, if you’re defrosting a breast to make a chicken salad, cold water immersion is a good option. If you’re preparing a chicken salad sandwich or making grilled chicken, you’ll want to read on to learn about other defrosting methods.
Thawing Frozen Chicken in the Microwave
Some people swear by this method for defrosting frozen chicken quickly. Place the chicken pieces between paper towels and microwave them for about 5 minutes per pound (or 10 minutes per pound for a larger whole chicken). Allow them to cool before removing them from the microwave, as the chicken will be very warm and quite likely to splatter. You can also place the frozen breast pieces on a plate and microwave them for about 3 minutes per breast. Again, make sure they cool before handling. As with cold water immersion, this is a method that is not advised if you’re planning to use the chicken raw or in a recipe that calls for it to be cooked rare.
Thawing Frozen Chicken at Room Temperature
If you’re in a hurry, but you can’t microwave or immerse the chicken because of its size or shape, you can thaw frozen chicken at room temperature. You’ll want to place the chicken in a resealable plastic bag and let it sit there until it’s completely thawed, changing the bag every 30 to 60 minutes to prevent the spread of bacteria. This method is not advised if you’re planning to use the chicken in a recipe that will be eaten raw or will be served rare, and it should only be used if you’re in a hurry. If you’re using frozen chicken for other recipes, such as a stir fry, this method is a good option.
How to Cook Frozen Chicken
Finally, let’s talk about what to do with your defrosted frozen chicken. Once it’s been thawed and any water has been removed, you can cook it as you normally would. However, you may find that the texture of the chicken is not what you’re expecting. The reason for this is that when you freeze chicken, the water inside the cells freezes and expands, creating a barrier between the chicken’s surface and the air inside the cells. When you then thaw the chicken, the water inside the cells expands again, causing the chicken to become slightly mushy. To avoid this, you can add a small amount of salt to the chicken while it’s still frozen, which will help keep the cells sealed. Just be sure to rinse the salt off when you’re done defrosting the chicken.
Conclusion
There are plenty of ways to defrost frozen chicken, ranging from quick methods to ones that require a bit more time. Whichever method you choose, make sure that you cook the chicken thoroughly once it is ready to go.
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