Winner, winner, chicken dinner. At least, that’s what you initially believed before realizing your chicken was completely frozen. Here are the best techniques for defrosting chicken safely because there are right and wrong ways to defrost poultry.
The best and safest way to defrost chicken is in the refrigerator, but it takes about a day of preparation; if you need a quicker solution, move on. Transfer your chicken from the freezer to the refrigerator the day before you intend to cook it so that it can thaw gradually for at least 24 hours. To reduce the possibility of drips onto your other food as it thaws, put the raw chicken in a rimmed container or bowl and place it at the bottom of your refrigerator. This method of defrosting meat will ensure that it remains fresh in your refrigerator for an additional one to two days, but once it has thawed, it cannot be refrozen unless you intend to use it to make stock, soup, or stew. Thawed meat that is refrozen loses flavor and texture because the protein cell structure is disrupted and extra moisture is produced.
You can defrost your chicken the same day using the cold-water method if you only have a few hours to spare. The USDA advises against thawing meat in hot water or at room temperature. Meat enters the food “Danger Zone” when it reaches 40 degrees F, where bacteria can grow and render it unsafe to consume. This can occur if meat is left out at room temperature for more than two hours. In addition to the possibility of cross-contamination with other foods you might set on your kitchen counter, uncooked raw meat left out for an extended period of time (poultry needs to be cooked internally to a temperature of 165 degrees F) has the potential to result in foodborne illness.
In accordance with USDA recommendations, place the frozen chicken in a leak-proof plastic bag and submerge it in a sizable bowl of cold tap water. Never leave a bowl of raw chicken in water in your sink as this will contaminate the entire area and the meat will end up absorbing some of the water. The chicken should always be well sealed before coming into contact with water. A 1-pound package of meat may take an hour or less to fully thaw, while a larger package weighing 3 or 4 pounds may take longer than two hours. Change the water every 30 minutes. Refreezing should only be done if you intend to cook the meat before putting it back in the freezer.
Although this method is the quickest for quickly defrosting chicken, it is not necessarily the best. Your raw meat may be heated through in some places while remaining frozen in others after being microwaved, causing it to enter the “Danger Zone” temperature range (40 to 140 degrees F). Make sure to cook it right away after microwave thawing and to only refreeze it after it is completely cooked.
If you’re short on time, you can cook frozen chicken in soups and sauces on the stove instead of thawing it first. Just remember that the cooking times will be about 50% longer. You can also use a pressure cooker or an Instant Pot to cook frozen chicken, but avoid using a slow cooker because it will foster the growth of bacteria. Try these quick and simple recipes for Instant Pot frozen chicken teriyaki with rice and broccoli and Instant Pot lemon frozen chicken with orzo, or use an air fryer to cook your frozen chicken in less than 30 minutes.
You can refer to Food Network’s detailed instructions for defrosting meat for more information and a helpful video tutorial.
How Long Does it Take to Thaw Chicken?
Depending on the technique you use, thawing frozen chicken can take anywhere from two days to thirty minutes.
Depending on how many pounds of frozen chicken breast you have, the refrigerator method could take up to two days.
It can take up to an hour per pound to use cold water.
Depending on how much chicken is used, the microwave takes 10 to 20 minutes.
I am someone who wavers a lot about dinner. Even though I do plan my meals for the week, I usually keep them flexible to accommodate my constantly changing mood and schedule. So even though I may have declared Thursday to be “chicken night,” if Tuesday seems like a better night for it for whatever reason, I’ll switch things around without worrying. But that suggests that I might need to thaw that chicken sooner than I had anticipated.
Just give the frozen meat an extra two to five minutes to come to temperature before cooking it in the same manner as you would defrosted meat. The amount of time it takes the pot to reach pressure increases from 10 to about 15 minutes, but the amount of time it takes to cook under pressure stays the same.
What’s more, using this technique lowers the chance that the chicken will enter the 41°F to 135°F danger zone, where bacteria can quickly multiply. The chicken will need about 24 hours to fully thaw and be ready for cooking, so this method does require planning ahead.
Before you order takeout, consider using your Instant Pot to thaw your chicken if you forgot to do so overnight and don’t have a few hours to spare to do so in cold water. Yes, you can use the Instant Pot to cook chicken that is frozen!
In order for the meat to slowly defrost and have time to reabsorb the ice crystals that formed between the fibers, which gives it a better texture when cooked, the ideal place to thaw frozen chicken is in the refrigerator.
How Long Can Frozen Chicken Sit Out
Chicken should not be left out at room temperature for more than two hours. The chicken can still be cooked if you unintentionally left it on the counter within that time period because this is only a suggestion.
Transfer it to the refrigerator if you won’t be cooking right away.
FAQ
How do you thaw frozen chicken breast?
- The chicken should be taken out of the freezer at least 24 hours beforehand.
- Place it in a ziplock plastic bag or container.
- Place it on a low shelf in the refrigerator and keep it there until completely defrosted.
- Cook within 1–2 days.
How long does it take to defrost chicken breast at room temperature?
You shouldn’t keep raw chicken at a temperature above 40F. Bacteria flourish in the warmer environment and condensation from the frozen particles. Although it takes the longest, this method is the most secure and hands-free. The chicken will defrost within 1-2 hours.
Can you quickly thaw chicken breast?
Simply place your frozen chicken breast (in its packaging) in a hot water bath that is precisely 140°F to accomplish this. The water is so hot that the meat defrosts quickly enough to keep bacterial growth at a “safe” level, but not quickly enough to cook the chicken.
How do you safely defrost chicken?
- To prevent water from penetrating the sandwich bag and contaminating the chicken, place your chicken inside.
- Place the bag in a sizable mixing bowl or a spotless sink.
- Put the bag in the bowl of cold water after it has been filled.
- Change the water every 30 mins.
