Are you looking for an easy to follow guide on defrosting chicken?
You’re in the right place!
In this TheGrillingDad.com guide, you’ll learn:
- 3 different ways to thaw frozen chicken
- How to do it quickly
- Reasons why you need to handle raw chicken safely
- And much more!
Jump to Section
How to Thaw Chicken Correctly
There are various handy and foolproof options for properly thawing frozen chicken in time for a tasty, no-fuss lunch. As advised by the USDA, we’ve listed three distinct ways to thaw chicken, so you may choose the one that best fits your needs.
Of course, you could always skip the thawing and cook it right away after taking it out from the freezer, but it is not recommended as it is a long, tiring process that will add around a good fifty minutes to your cooking time. And cooking frozen chicken might also make your chicken seem cooked from the outside, but it may be raw or undone from the inside.
It could also contain bacteria which could be dangerous for your health. Another thing to remember is that leaving your chicken out on the counter or soaking it in hot water may allow bacteria to multiply quickly. So, if you want to thaw your chicken without spoiling its texture and nutrients, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’ll walk you through different methods for thawing your chicken so you can enjoy its natural flavor whenever you want without any bother of ruining your meat.
Read More >> How To Reheat Chicken Wings
How to Defrost Chicken Fast?
The USDA recommends fast and safely thawing chicken in one of three ways:
- Inside the microwave
- With a cold bath
- In the refrigerator
Let’s go over the ways for defrosting chicken the right way!
How to Defrost Chicken in the Microwave? (Quickest Method!)
Have you ever been planning a meal and then realized you forgot to take your main course out of the freezer? Although defrosting chicken takes time, a kitchen device can help you get dinner on the table quickly.
Microwave defrosting is a safe and straightforward technique to get your chicken ready to cook when done correctly. Defrost settings on many microwave ovens allow consumers to defrost meat faster.
It is the quickest approach; however, it is essential to cook your chicken right away after defrosting it in the microwave.
Microwaves heat chicken at temperatures between 40-140-degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 and 60 degrees Celsius), which allows bacteria to grow.
The bacteria will only be killed if the chicken is cooked to the right temperature.
This is known to be the quickest way to thaw chicken, but it isn’t the most effective. It is advised to cook your chicken right after thawing it in the microwave and only refreeze it once it’s all done.
Follow the following steps for quickly defrosting your chicken:
- Take the meat out of the freezer. The estimated weight of your product determines timings, so check the label or weigh it before proceeding.
- Make sure you place your meat in a microwave-safe container.
- Defrost your microwave by pressing the defrost button. Set your microwave to cook at 20-30% of its total power if you don’t have a defrost button.
- Set the timer for cooking. Keep in mind that most meats, such as chicken, beef, and pig, require 8–10 minutes per pound to defrost. The time it takes for fish, or other seafood to thaw varies, so consult the packaging for more details. Consider using your microwave’s options for defrosting by weight or specific items for the most remarkable results.
- Do not leave thawing meat in the microwave unattended. Instead, set a timer for a few minutes and turn the meat once or twice during that time. This ensures that the thawing uniformly takes place.
- Cook the meat right away after removing it from the microwave. Once your meal has finished cooking, you can refreeze it.
When defrosting chicken in the microwave, make sure to thaw only as much chicken as you plan to eat.
When defrosting meats in the microwave, there may be warm spots or places that have already begun to cook during the defrosting process. As a result, it’s essential to defrost only what you need and cook the meat straight away.
Safety Tip >> After defrosting, carefully clean the microwave.
How to Thaw Chicken With Coldwater? (One Hour Method)
When you’re ready to prepare a tasty chicken meal but your chicken breast is frozen, try these simple steps to defrost a boneless, skinless chicken in a safe and timely manner and get cooking right away.
Though faster than thawing in the refrigerator, this method necessitates greater attention.
Here are a few things to bear in mind before we get into the bathing technique:
- Begin with thin chicken breasts. You don’t want anything more than an inch thick for quick thawing.
- The hot water somewhat cooks the edges, but this does not affect the flavor.
- It might even take two to three hours to complete this task, depending on the size of the chicken.
To thaw your chicken with cold water, follow these steps:
- Place the chicken in a plastic bag that will not leak. This will prevent bacteria or germs from infecting the food and causing damage to the meat tissue.
- Fill a sink or a big mixing bowl halfway with cold tap water.
- Use a thermometer to check the temperature. You want room temperature water.
- Place the packaged frozen chicken in the water.
- Stir the water occasionally to prevent pockets of cold water from forming. Every 30 minutes, change the water.
Try the cold-water method if you have a few hours before cooking your chicken.
Your chicken could defrost in as little as an hour (ground chicken, for example) or as long as several hours for larger chunks, depending on the cut.
Foods that have been thawed in this manner should be cooked before refreezing. Depending on how long your meat has been out of the fridge, you’ll want to cook it quickly after it has thawed.
Read More >> How to Grill Chicken Breasts
How to Defrost Chicken in the Refrigerator? (Safest Method)
Food must be thawed gently, according to traditional principles. Thawing chicken in the refrigerator is the ideal method but requires more time than the rest. This strategy necessitates the most planning, but it is also recommended.
Thawing chicken might take up to a day, so plan your meals ahead of time. The chicken can be kept in the refrigerator for a day or two after being thawed.
This procedure requires some forethought, as the defrosting process must begin at least 1 day before the chicken is used.
The amount of time it takes to work will be determined by the size of the chicken parts.
Chicken breasts, bone-in chicken, and whole chickens can take 1–2 days to thaw in the refrigerator.
Refrigerating frozen chicken is the safest way to defrost it. This approach is safe since the chicken is kept chilly while defrosting in the refrigerator, keeping it from becoming too warm for too long.
For this method, take the following steps:
- Take the chicken out of the freezer at least 24 hours before you plan to cook it.
- Put it in a zip lock bag or a container with a lid.
- Place it on a low shelf in the refrigerator and leave it there until thoroughly defrosted.
This is ideal for defrosting your poultry since it avoids exposing the flesh to higher temperatures, which is better for safety and texture.
While it does necessitate some forethought (consider setting a reminder on your phone), it is also the option that takes the least amount of hands-on care.
Remove the chicken from the freezer two days before you plan to cook it, place it on a plate, and store it on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator.
Defrosting your meat in this manner will keep it fresh in your fridge for an extra 1 to 2 days, but it cannot be refrozen once it has thawed unless you plan to cook it in a liquid such as stock soup or stew.
Refreezing thawed meat causes the protein cell structure to break down, resulting in poor flavor and texture.
Read More >> How to Smoke a Whole Chicken
How Long Does it Take to Defrost Chicken?
Chicken might take anywhere from 2 days to 30 minutes to thaw, depending on the method you use.
- Refrigerator Method: Depending on how many pounds of frozen chicken breast you have, the refrigerator method can take up to two days.
- Cold Water Method: The cold-water procedure can take up to an hour per pound.
- Microwave Method: The microwave takes 10-20 minutes, depending on the amount of chicken.
Read More >> How Long Does Chicken Last In The Fridge?
How to Tell When Chicken is Defrosted
The best way to check if chicken is defrosted is to cut a small opening in the meat and press your finger in it. It should feel soft and there shouldn’t be any bits of ice. If you see or feel ice, you’ll need to continue defrosting.
Cooking the Frozen Chicken Right Away!
According to the USDA, cooking chicken without thawing it in the oven or stove is entirely safe. What’s the disadvantage, though? It will take a little longer – roughly 50% longer in most cases.
The USDA advises against using a slow cooker for cooking frozen chicken. It’s best to defrost the chicken first, then cook it. The USDA advises against using a slow cooker for cooking frozen chicken. Thawing the chicken first and then cooking it in the crockpot can be a delicious way to prepare a meal.
It’ll be ready to eat by dinnertime if you start it early in the day. But if you’re short on time, skip the thawing and cook frozen chicken. Just keep in mind that cooking times will be roughly 50% longer. You may also use a pressure cooker for cooking frozen chicken but avoid slow cooking because it creates the ideal condition for bacteria to thrive.
You and your family will be less likely to contract the foodborne disease if you handle poultry meat properly. If you make it a practice to schedule your meals at least 24 hours ahead of time, you’ll have no issue ensuring that your poultry is ready to cook when dinnertime arrives.
How to Defrost Chicken Key Takeaways
We’ve gone through all the thawing options for chicken, and now I’ll leave you with a few pointers for impeccably thawed chicken!
- The night before you plan to cook, grab the chicken from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator. Set a reminder on your phone to remind you to do so, as this will make it difficult to forget.
- For the cold-water procedure, use thick plastic zip bags.
- If you’re using the microwave, make sure to monitor the progress every minute.
- It’s better to stop cooking if any white or opaque areas appear, as this will cause the chicken to dry up.
Read More >> Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe
How to Defrost Chicken FAQ:
Can You Defrost Chicken on the Counter?
You should never set chicken on the counter to defrost. Doing this can cause the chicken to rise to an unsafe temperature and allow bacteria to grow. This bacteria can lead to illnesses like salmonella or food poisoning.
The safest way to defrost chicken is in your fridge overnight.
Can You Cook Frozen Chicken?
If you don’t have time to defrost chicken the safe way don’t panic because you can cook frozen chicken. Just know that you will need to add an additional 50% to the cooking time and check the chicken with a thermometer to ensure it reaches the safe temperature of 165°F before consuming.
Can You Refreeze Defrosted Chicken?
It is possible to refreeze defrosted chicken as long as it was defrosted using the fridge method. If you defrosted your chicken in the microwave or cold water bath it cannot be refrozen and must be consumed.
Why Thawing Techniques Matter
It may seem strange that there are unsafe methods of defrosting chicken, but the truth is chicken can be a dangerous meat when not handled properly. Chicken meat can host all kinds of bacteria from e.coli to salmonella and you must watch your defrosting techniques in order to prevent these diseases from happening.
If you defrost your chicken using an unsafe method, it is possible that you and your family could get very sick from the meat even after it is cooked. It is impossible to see any of these dangerous bacterias on the meat which is why it is so important to follow safe thawing techniques.
What’s the Best Way to Defrost Chicken?
The best way to defrost chicken is in your refrigerator. This method can take up to 24 hours and will require you to move your chicken from the freezer to the fridge the day before you want to prepare it.
Is there a right way of thawing your chicken?
There are various handy and foolproof options for properly thawing frozen chicken in time for a tasty, no-fuss lunch.
As advised by the USDA, we’ve listed three distinct ways to thaw chicken, so you may choose the one that best fits your needs.
Of course, you could always skip the thawing and cook it right away after taking it out from the freezer, but it is not recommended as it is a long, tiring process that will add around a good fifty minutes to your cooking time. And cooking frozen chicken might also make your chicken seem cooked from the outside, but it may be raw or undone from the inside.
It could also contain bacteria which could be dangerous for your health.
Another thing to remember is that leaving your chicken out on the counter or soaking it in hot water may allow bacteria to multiply quickly.
So, if you want to thaw your chicken without spoiling its texture and nutrients, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’ll walk you through different methods for thawing your chicken so you can enjoy its natural flavor whenever you want without any bother of ruining your meat.
Read More >> Best Woods for Smoking Chicken
Tips on Getting the Best Out of Your Chicken
Before preparing chicken, ensure all visible fat is removed because it is terrible for your heart.
These fat deposits are usually white, and if you have difficulties detecting them, you can ask your seller to point them out for you.
To make it healthier, marinade it with healthy spices like turmeric, ginger, garlic paste, and coriander, as well as curd. Hence, the chicken absorbs all the nutrients and becomes more flavorful.
After that, you can cook it in a pressure cooker until the chicken is soft and delicious. You may also bake or grill it in the microwave, which is a healthy choice.
Hazards of Handling Chicken Improperly
Your chicken is still in the freezer, and it’s almost dinnertime? In these settings, food safety is often an afterthought, partially because people don’t take the foodborne illness seriously until they are the ones who are sick. Foodborne disease is dangerous and can be fatal.
If mishandled, chicken has the potential to get you severely ill. The following bacteria strains are most likely to be discovered on raw chicken, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
These bacteria can make you sick, at the very least. In worst-case scenarios, they have the potential to kill you. You can quickly lower your risks of getting this hazardous illness by following proper thawing procedures and preparing chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
It simply takes a few minutes to learn how to thaw chicken properly. It won’t just improve the taste of your dinner; it’ll also make you feel better when you have healthy food.
Precautions for Thawing Chicken
First, it’s important to address why handling chicken is so important.
As with many other types of meat, bacteria commonly live in the flesh. These bacteria can result in food-borne illnesses such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria.
These bacteria will quickly multiply when left at temperatures of between 40 and 140°F.
This is why chicken needs to be kept frozen or refrigerated, right up to the point where it’s ready to be cooked!
Freezing will keep the bacteria from multiplying for an extended period, while refrigeration will do the same for a much shorter period.
Cooking chicken thoroughly will kill the bacteria. However, the bacteria can be spread if the poultry is not handled carefully.
For example, if the juices get onto other foods that aren’t cooked to the same level as the chicken, then bacteria can be ingested while it is still active.
That’s why the following guidelines from the USDA are in place:
- Clean: Wash hands before and after handling chicken.
Thoroughly clean any surfaces that come into contact with the raw chicken immediately!Look out for anything your hands might have touched while handling the chicken, like the taps on the sink.
Be sure these areas are not only cleaned, but disinfected as well. Do not rinse or wash the chicken itself, as this will only help to spread the bacteria. Simply cooking it will kill all of the bacteria more effectively.
- Separate: Keep raw chicken away from other foods.
Separating chicken properly means ensuring that it is thoroughly sealed prior to putting it in the fridge.
Often, the packaging from the supermarket isn’t enough to prevent leakage. Instead, sealing it entirely in plastic, an airtight container, or aluminum foil will be more effective.
Also, using a separate cutting board for chicken is a good idea! Always make sure to wash it in hot soapy water afterwards.
- Cook: Always cook poultry to at least 165°F. This is regardless of the part of chicken, as this temperature is where all bacteria are killed.
- Chill: Refrigerate promptly. Raw chicken should never be left at room temperature, even for short periods.
It should be taken out just before preparing and cooked immediately. If you are marinating chicken, toss it in the marinade and leave it to sit in the fridge.
Based on this information, we can see why we should never let chicken thaw in our sink or countertop!
FAQs for Thawing Chicken
Is thawed chicken unhealthy to eat?
Despite all the myths, thawed chicken is not unhealthy on its own. But if it is thawed incorrectly, it might catch bacteria harmful to your health. The nutritional difference between fresh and properly frozen chicken is insignificant. Chicken, whether frozen or fresh, is a better alternative to red meats.
How to tell that your chicken is completely defrosted?
Cut or slice a small slit in the center of the thickest portion of your chicken to see if your chicken is completely defrosted or not. Insert your finger inside; if you feel the soft flesh, it means your chicken is completely defrosted, and you can start cooking right away, but if you come in contact with ice crystals or solid flesh, it means you need to continue defrosting.
Can you refreeze the chicken?
Yes! It is entirely safe to refreeze raw or cooked chicken. Only the chicken that has been thawed in the refrigerator should be refrozen because freezing the microwaved defrosted chicken will only contain bacteria.
Although chicken can be frozen indefinitely, the taste may be compromised. Refrigerate chicken in airtight packing at or below 0°F (-18°C) for the best quality and use within 4–12 months.
How long does chicken last in the fridge?
While storing chicken in the refrigerator is handy, many people are unaware of how long they can properly store it. According to the US Department of Agriculture, you can keep the raw chicken in the fridge for 1–2 days (USDA)
Meanwhile, you can keep a cooked chicken for 3–4 days in the refrigerator. Bacterial development is slowed by storing chicken in the refrigerator, as bacteria grow slower at temperatures below 40°F. It’s preferable to keep chicken in the freezer if you need to keep it for more than a few days.
Is it safe to thaw food in the microwave?
Some people may have warned you about the dangers of microwave defrosting in the name of food safety. Poor defrosting in the microwave can cause food to enter the danger zone, a temperature range where hazardous bacteria can develop. To avoid this, don’t leave defrosted items to sit about; instead, take them out of the microwave and cook them right away. It’s not the safest way, but microwaving is the ideal way to thaw your chicken if you are short of time.
Final Thoughts on Chicken Safety
Defrosting your chicken safely and easily will make cooking it a breeze. Choosing a method from the above article to suit your requirements will ensure you safe and quick defrost so that you can serve your friends and family with fresh, safe, and nutritional meals. Make sure to experiment with each of these techniques to discover which one you like.
Whatever method you pick, be sure to provide enough time for the process—rushing it is not a good idea!
If you want to learn more about grilling, check out these other helpful resources!
