Can You Cook Frozen Chicken Without Thawing It? Step-by-Step Guide to Cooking Frozen Chicken!
![Can You Cook Frozen Chicken Without Thawing It? Step-by-Step Guide to Cooking Frozen Chicken!](https://artofthebutcher.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Can-You-Cook-Frozen-Chicken-Without-Thawing-It-960x517.jpg)
In today’s fast-paced lifestyle, last-minute supper preparations are commonplace. Busy schedules, missed grocery shopping, or simply overlooking dinner planning until the eleventh hour are usual occurrences. Don’t fret when this occurs, there’s no need to settle for takeout. If there’s a chicken in your freezer, a speedy and simple dinner is still within your reach.
“Frozen chicken can be cooked!” says Allie Echeverria, an expert nutritionist from the Fresh Starts Registry in Atlanta, Georgia. She assures there are ways to avoid dry chicken while ensuring proper cooking. With unknown last-minute dinners, these can be your guidelines for cooking chicken right from the freezer, no thawing needed.
Can You Cook Frozen Chicken Without Thawing It?
Dealing with raw meat, like frozen or fresh, always needs safety as a priority. Luckily, we all can take a calming breath; the USDA has allowed us to cook frozen chicken. Just remember, this method might require about 50 percent more cooking time.
It’s a no-go to cook frozen chicken straight away in a slow cooker or microwave. The slow cooker’s speed isn’t right, causing the chicken to stick around too long in the so-called temperature danger zone – 40 degrees F to 140 degrees F. This zone is bacteria’s favorite hangout. In contrast, a microwave zaps food too fast, making the chicken’s center struggle to reach the safe internal heat (165 degrees F) before the rest is done. Microwaving to defrost? Sure, but cook it pronto. The danger zone is not a good place to dilly-dally.
What is the Best Way To Cook Frozen Chicken?
Echevarria’s favored way maximizes the use of her multi-cooker. Here’s how to use an Instant Pot to cook frozen chicken:
- Place four frozen chicken breasts in the Instant Pot. Combine 1 cup of water or broth with your favorite seasonings.
- Place the lid and close the valve. Use the manual pressure setting and cook on high for 10-12 minutes. Remember that Instant Pots require about 10 minutes to reach pressure before they begin cooking. Your chicken will go from frozen to cooked in approximately 30 minutes.
- Allow the pressure to naturally release for five to ten minutes before manually removing any leftover pressure.
The Benefits of Cooking Frozen Chicken
Why bother cooking chicken directly from the freezer? There are various advantages to this strategy.
- Quick and easy: There’s no need to stress if the chicken is still frozen, this shortens your cooking time.
- Handy feature: Did the chicken not defrost? It’s alright. Still look forward to a tasty meal, no added stress.
- Health tip: Directly cooking chicken from being frozen helps it reach the safe internal temperature. This is good to kill any potentially bad bacteria.
Check this one: What is That White Stuff Coming Out of My Chicken? Is This White Stuff Safe to Eat?
Step-by-Step Guide to Cooking Frozen Chicken
Now that we’ve covered the benefits, let’s look at how to prepare frozen chicken:
- Get your oven hot: First, heat your oven to 400°F (200°C). This helps the chicken cook completely and equally.
- Ready the chicken: Unwrap the frozen chicken and put it on a parchment paper-covered baking sheet. Dress the chicken with your favorite seasonings, spices, and sauces.
- Cooking period: Chicken size and chunk thickness influence cooking duration. As a rule, boneless chicken breasts cook for around 25-30 minutes. Bone-in chicken might need 40-45 minutes. Use a meat thermometer. It should read 165°F (74°C) inside the chicken.
- Take a break and savor: After cooking the chicken, give it a breather outside the oven. This helps juices to re-flow and makes your chicken tasty and soft. Serve it with your preferred sides and relish!
Can You Cook Frozen Chicken In A Slow Cooker?
Remember: Instant Pots and slow cookers are not the same in this situation. The USDA says raw chicken might not hit the safe temp of 165 degrees fast enough if it cooks slowly. This might cause bacteria to grow. If you’re using a slow cooker recipe, let your frozen chicken thaw in the fridge (this may take more than a day), or attempt to defrost it in cool water for an hour or so, based on how big the package is. The USDA advises refreshing the water every half hour to ensure it remains cool. Chicken defrosted using the cold-water trick should be cooked right away.
Traditional Methods to Cook Frozen Chicken
Cooking a frozen bird needs more time and care, so it’s vital to keep it moist. Else, the outside might get too dry before the inside is done. Commonly, defrosted boneless pieces take 20-30 minutes to cook at 350 F. But if it’s still frozen, you’ll need an extra 10-15 minutes. Pieces with bones take even longer. One way to add moisture is by using a sauce like mayo or Dijon mustard when roasting or baking. Not only does this create a tasty crust, but it also allows breadcrumbs to stick without needing the typical egg wash and coating technique.
Chicken soaked in flavorful liquids keeps it lush. Use a simple broth for soups or salads. Chicken soaked in sauces, like tikka masala or other curries, is also yummy. Try soaking chicken in a store-bought barbecue sauce for a dish that’s sweet and tangy. Heat it on the stove to a boil, then oven-simmer it covered or simmer on the stovetop till it’s done. Frozen chicken soaked in marinara makes a great pasta dish, or hoisin sauce for an Asian stir-fry that’s sweet. Slice the frozen chicken to get super thin pieces, great for stir-fries served with noodles or rice. Poached large chicken chunks can also be torn up to make sandwiches.