How to Properly Thaw Frozen Chicken Meat

When you know how to handle frozen chicken meat, you'll have a chicken that is as good as the fresh chicken you buy at the wet markets. There have been some debates about whether fresh chicken meat is better than frozen chicken. But this issue boils down to affordability, practicality, convenience, and reduction of food waste.

Many people still believe that you need to thaw frozen chicken at room temperature. Others think that it is not fresh, over-processed and unhealthy. But these are just old beliefs.

Frozen chicken meat

The reality is that frozen chicken meat is the same as the chicken from the wet market, but it is frozen right after processing, which preserves its freshness. Freezing the chicken extends its shelf life, and ensuring that its quality is not lost.

The nutritional values and the vitamin and protein content of frozen chicken meat remain intact. In fact, the quick freezing process ensures that the chicken meat stays juicy and tender. And the good news is – you can store whole frozen chicken in a freezer for one year, while chicken pieces will still be good when stored for a maximum of nine months.

On the other hand, packaged fresh chicken from the supermarket typically has a ''best before date'' of two weeks. Likewise, raw chicken should only be stored in the freezer section of your refrigerator for a maximum of four days. After that, it starts to lose its quality and freshness.

So, if you have a freezer, you can safely buy frozen chicken meat from E&L Food, Metro Manila's trusted retail chicken shop and have a wonderful meal anytime, even if unexpected guests drop by. What's more, ordering frozen chicken meat, which we can deliver at your door quickly, saves you from going out. 

Thawing frozen chicken safely

To thaw or not to thaw, that is the question. Many people are concerned about food safety because health is one of the top priorities, especially today. It will not take you long to learn how to thaw frozen chicken meat safely if you follow our tips.

• Do not thaw your chicken meat on the kitchen counter because bacteria flourish at room temperature. Bacteria grow when the temperature is about 40°F to 140°F (4.4°C to 60°C).

• Use a basin or container to rinse your chicken so that you avoid splashing bacteria in your kitchen.

On the other hand, you can follow these methods to defrost the chicken:

1.     Use a microwave to thaw the chicken faster. However, remember that when you use a microwave, the chicken should be cooked immediately to prevent bacteria from thriving at the minimum temperature. Thus, use this method only if you are in a hurry.

2.     Place the chicken meat, whether it is one whole frozen chicken, frozen chicken breast or frozen chicken leg fillet, into a leak-proof plastic bag. Seal the bag and submerge it in a large bowl or kitchen sink filled with cold water. Add ice if the water from your faucet is warm and change the water every half hour. The thawing process will take about two to three hours.

3.     The safest method in thawing the frozen chicken is to remove it from your freezer and put it inside the refrigerator. It would be best to plan your meals, as it takes about 24 to 48 hours to thaw a whole frozen chicken. There's other good news. The thawed chicken can stay in the fridge for another day or two.

A large package of frozen chicken breast or frozen chicken leg fillet will take at least 24 hours to thaw inside your fridge. However, you can use the water bath if you're in a hurry.

Making frozen chicken breast flavorful

One of the things you need to know is that chicken breast can be dry because it's virtually fat-less. It's a favorite among health-conscious eaters and weight watchers. Some people like to remove the skin on chicken breasts. But if you want the chicken breasts to be luscious and moist, it is better to cook chicken breasts with the skin on and remove the skin before eating the chicken meat.

Chicken breast tends to be bland. Add flavor with a pepper and salt rub. If you want to be more creative, prepare a spice rub by mixing smoked paprika, coriander, cumin, garlic powder, black pepper and sea salt.

It's also better to pound the chicken breasts to maintain the same thickness so that you can cook them faster. Pounding prevents the outer parts of the meat from drying out while waiting for the inner part to cook.

Nutrient-rich frozen chicken leg fillet

Chicken legs have dark meat, which has higher moisture content and richer flavor. Dark chicken meat is perfect for several recipes, such as chicken thighs with creamy mushroom sauce, coq au vin, or the perennial favorite, fried chicken. Chicken leg fillets are excellent for braising, baking, slow cooking, air frying, or grilling. In short, chicken leg fillets are suitable when fried or cooked with a variety of sauces.

And remember, the higher fat content of chicken leg fillets makes the meat tender and juicy and adds a more intense flavor to the chicken meat.

Never be out of food essentials with E&L retail chicken shop

You'll never be certain that you can always go out to shop for food essentials, such as frozen chicken meat and other chicken products like frozen chicken leg fillet or frozen chicken breast.

Chicken is one of the meat products that are typically stored at home because it is so versatile and good on its own or combined with a variety of vegetables and pasta. Here at E&L retail chicken shop, we make it convenient for you to easily and safely shop online for frozen chicken meat.

Our team will quickly process your orders and schedule their delivery at your door quickly to ensure that you can cook delicious and nutritious chicken dishes at any time.