Frozen chicken meat needs to be thawed properly and properly before processing. The reason is, carelessly handling frozen chicken meat can be at risk of being contaminated with disease-causing germs so that it is not suitable for consumption.
Freezing chicken meat or buying frozen chicken is effective in keeping it durable. However, also pay attention to how to thaw frozen chicken meat to ensure the quality of processed chicken meat and prevent food poisoning.
How to Defrost Frozen Chicken
When processing chicken meat, both frozen and fresh, you first need to wash your hands thoroughly first. After that, you also need to wash your hands and the equipment used to thaw the meat.
To thaw frozen chicken meat properly and safely, you can do it in the following ways:
Blet the frozen chicken thaw by itself
The first method that can be used to thaw frozen chicken meat is to remove it from the freezer and transfer it to the bottom of the fridge. This method is considered the safest way, but the process takes a long time.
Frozen chicken pieces can thaw after one night, while whole chicken takes longer, about 1-2 days to completely thaw before cooking.
Soak frozen chicken in a bowl of water
The second way to thaw frozen chicken is to soak it in water. However, before that, first put the chicken meat in a waterproof plastic. Then, soak the chicken that has been wrapped in plastic in a bowl or basin filled with plain or warm water.
When defrosting frozen chicken with this method, you will need to change the water in the bowl every 30 minutes, until the frozen chicken is completely thawed. The process of defrosting frozen chicken in this way usually takes about 2-3 hours.
Warm frozen chicken using microwave
The third way to thaw frozen chicken is to warm it with a microwave. This is the fastest way because it only takes a few minutes. The temperature used to thaw frozen chicken meat in microwave ranged from 40-600C .
Avoid thawing frozen chicken in the open or at normal temperatures, to prevent bacteria from multiplying. In addition, avoid washing chicken meat before cooking, because it will make chicken meat contaminated with bacteria and spread bacteria around the kitchen.
How Long Can Chicken Be Stored Frozen?
Frozen chicken meat can last a long time, namely:
- Whole frozen chicken in raw conditions can be stored for up to 12 months.
- Frozen raw chicken pieces can be stored for about 9 months.
- Raw chicken offal or internal organs can be stored frozen for up to 3-4 months.
- Freeze cooked chicken can last about 4 months.
To maintain the nutritional content, such as protein, vitamins, and minerals, as well as the taste of frozen chicken, pay attention to how it is stored. It is recommended that you store frozen chicken meat at temperatures below 0°C, which is around -150°C before thawing and processing.
After defrosting frozen chicken, don't forget to clean all utensils and kitchen surfaces thoroughly before using them to process other foods, okay? If necessary, use a separate cutting board specifically for processing raw chicken and other foods.
By understanding how to defrost frozen chicken, you can cook and eat chicken without worry. In addition, also apply a balanced nutritional diet and exercise regularly to keep the body healthy.
If you still have questions about how to process and thaw frozen chicken safely, don't hesitate to consult a doctor. You can also ask the amount of chicken meat that can be consumed according to your health condition.
