YOU’VE been out all day and when you get back home you discover you, or someone else, has forgotten to defrost the chicken for your evening meal – we’ve all been there.
In these situations the questions you may find yourself asking are if you can cook it anyway or should you make something different and leave the chicken you’ve been waiting all day for, for another time.
Can you cook chicken without defrosting it?[/caption]
Can you cook chicken from frozen?
The FDA (Food Standards Agency) says: “When you take your food out of the freezer, it’s important to defrost it safely before cooking or eating it.”
They also add that: “Before you serve pork, poultry and minced meat, make sure it is steaming hot and cooked all the way through. When you cut into the thickest part of the meat, check that none of the meat is pink and that any juices run clear. In a whole bird this is the area between the leg and the breast.”
Similarly the NHS say: “Cooking chicken until it reaches a temperature of 70C (158F) can help to ensure that it’s safe to eat. You can test the temperature of food with a food thermometer.”
With this in mind it’s certainly clear that it’s better to thaw and defrost chicken before cooking, but if you find yourself in a pinch, allrecipes state that you actually can cook chicken from frozen.
While it’s better to thaw and defrost chicken before cooking, if you find yourself in a pinch, allrecipes state that you actually can cook chicken from frozen.
Although Birds Eye warns that: “larger pieces of frozen chicken, like a whole chicken or chicken on the bone, aren’t suitable” for cooking from frozen – so just be wary of the amount you are cooking.
Please also note that frozen chicken should NEVER be cooked using a slow cooker or microwave.
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How long does it take to cook a frozen chicken?
This depends entirely on the method of cooking, although it will certainly take longer than cooking defrosted poultry. It also depends on the cut of chicken being used.
According to allrecipes cooking in the oven can take between 30 to 60 minutes for chicken breast, 60 to 75 minutes for thighs, 45 to 60 for wings, and 53 to 68 for drumsticks.
Cooking on the stove can take 38 to 68 minutes for breasts, 60 to 75 for thighs, 53 to 68 for wings, and 60 to 75 for drumsticks.
The quickest way by far to cook frozen chicken is by using an instant pot. Just ten to 15 minutes cooking time is needed for breasts, 13 to 15 for thighs, and wings and drumsticks will take just 12 minutes.
An air fryer offers another quick way to cook your frozen chicken, taking 18 to 20 minutes for breasts, 20 to 22 for thighs, 28 to 30 for chicken wings, and 25 to 30 for drumsticks.
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What is the best way to cook chicken?
There are plenty of ways to cook chicken, and the best way will depend on what you are having with the poultry. Try cooking on the stovetop if you are adding the chicken to a curry or pasta dish.
For roast dinners and such like, many would recommend using the oven for this. You can also oven bake chicken wings for a delicious side for any meal.