How to Defrost Chicken
The barbecue is hot and the chicken is still frozen solid. What’s the best way to defrost frozen chicken? An expert sheds some light on the matter.
There are three methods for defrosting chicken: in the refrigerator, in the microwave and in cold water, says Meredith Carothers. She works in a technical role at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). ‘The refrigerator takes the longest, so you need to put the frozen chicken in the refrigerator in the morning if you want to eat it that evening. It takes at least twelve hours, but sometimes as long as two days, to defrost the chicken completely. It is the easiest method, though: you don’t have to think about anything and you know for sure that the chicken won’t get too warm. Straight from the freezer into a bowl in the refrigerator, done.’
Wrapped in a cold bath
Defrosting in cold water also works well. Note: you need to put the chicken in a properly sealed, waterproof freezer bag without any holes. ‘If the packaging leaks, bacteria can get to the meat. In addition, the chicken will get wet when you place it in the water bath,’ warns Carothers. Her advice: place the bag of frozen chicken in a bowl of cold water and change the water every thirty minutes.
Super-fast: microwave
Every microwave has a defrost setting, so that is without a doubt the fastest way to defrost chicken. Pay close attention to the instructions (to prevent, for example, the whole kitchen from going up in flames) and start cooking the chicken immediately after defrosting it. If you put the chicken back in the refrigerator to bake or grill later, bacteria can multiply in the chicken meat, which can make you ill.
Room temperature
Why can’t you simply leave the chicken to defrost on a plate on the kitchen counter? ‘Never do that,’ says Carothers. ‘While the inside of the chicken is still frozen solid, the outside is already reaching room temperature, which is the temperature at which bacteria multiply rapidly. This causes toxic substances to develop, which don’t even disappear during cooking.’ Can you cook the chicken while it is still frozen? ‘That works better in stews than on the grill or in the oven,’ says Carothers. ‘Because of the moisture released during defrosting, you won’t get a crispy crust as easily. In addition, the outside of the chicken will already be more than cooked, while the inside is still pink. Not a good idea.’
Read also:
- How to make frozen green beans that actually taste good
- 11 things that stay fresh in your refrigerator for at least two weeks
- 5 common mistakes when grilling over charcoal
Source: Eat This
