Defrosting chicken

abbecer

When i last did my Food Hygiene Course it was said that it is perfectly safe to cook chicken from frozen so long as it is in portions and not whole. This went against everything i had previously been taught. Apparently it's safer as the bacteria doesn't have time to multiply as the chicken defrosts. I am really fussy with food/kitchen hygiene and it has been fine. Hope this helps.

Rebecca x

lipidicman

The problem that people dont understand is just how much energy is required to convert ice into water at 0 degrees, ie to cause the phase change. This is the enthlapy of fusion and is significant compared to the energy then required to warm the water. This explains why a freezer ice pack will keep something cool for hours whilst a piece of stone removed from the freezer will warm quite quickly. Thus it is possible that you will end up with a chicken with the bits that defrosted quickly being cooked whilst the innards could be surprisily cold and almost completely raw, not a good idea! This is especially likely with a partially defrosted bird.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_enthalpy_change_of_fusion

My lecture on thermodynamics endeth!

Lipidicman has left the building

mirry

I got a chicken out of the freezer at 6.30 this morning and have left it at room temprature to defrost.
Ive just read it and it says leave for 24 hours in the refridgerator

Do you think it will be ok ?

daxon

Should be fine - check if it is defrosted - best way I'm afraid is to feel inside!
If it feel defrosted then put it in the fridge now to keep it cool until you use it. If not you can leave it out as long as it is covered loosely.

MATH

It's not to be recommended but i do this all the time. Just make sure that it is cooked thoroughly and that the juices run clear.

Deedee73

Give it a good soak in a bowl of water as well, just to make sure there are no ice crystals left!

ArmchairTycoon

I put some chicken in the freezer to de-frost overnight, it has now been sitting in the fridge de-frosted for 3 days, I have been too busy to use it, is it safe to cook tonight?, I was going to make a batch of chicken curry and freeze it.

Sorry if this is the wrong place but I couldn't see anywhere else on the forum that was suitable and it is money saving as I do not want to waste it.

soappie

If it's been in the fridge all that time, it *should* be OK as long as you cook it well. However, give it a sniff and, if it smells even in the slightest way iffy, bin it.

Shambler

I usually trust my nose, if it doesn't smell off then use it.

angie_loves_veg

I work on that if it had at least 2 days before its use by date when you froze it, it should be fine..... if however (for example) you bought it reduced because it was use by that day, froze it, then another two days wouldn't be good....

If in doubt, follow your nose as others have said...