Dont laugh! - How to defrost whole chicken?

freddie_2

As title.
Dont have a microwave and have just taken out a whole chicken of freezer for dinner tomorrow night. Will it defrost OK in fridge still in packet on a plate or do I need to put it anywhere else?

Also it says freeze on day of purchase and use within one month, its has been there since start of April. Will it be ok to eat?

How long will it take to defrost in fridge? its 1.54kg.

Thanks, I know they are daft questions but I always buy and cook but these were reduced in Marks to 2 pound and I couldnt resist but now am unsure about eating it!

ariba10

I would take it out of the packing and put it in the fridge, it should thaw out OK in 24 hrs.

We have bought fresh chickens on offer, frozen them and kept them for six months or so and used them with no ill effect.

Penelope_Penguin

ariba10 wrote: »

I would take it out of the packing and put it in the fridge, it should thaw out OK in 24 hrs.

I don't think 24 hours in the fridge is long enough I'd leave it in a cool kitchen overnight, then take a view in the morning to see if it can finish deforsting in the fridge or in the kitchen.

There'll be no problem with the quality, as long as it was looked after properly before it was frozen

Penny. x

redruby

I would leave it in the packaging, but on a plate on the kitchen counter, and in the morning put it in the fridge. Dont worry about it being in the freezer since April, I have things in there for months sometimes :rotfl:

Patchwork_Quilt

Same here - I usually leave it in the packet on the side in the kitchen until I want to cook it, unless it's going to be a boiling hot day

david39

You need air to circulate round it - take it out of its packaging and put it onto a wire rack so that the air can get to the bottom of the chicken as well as the the other surfaces.

Don't cover it up, you must not insulate it from the fresh air.

Should be cold enough to their feet for flies to keep off it.

huston_kw

The chicken, defrost on kitchen unit, and I ignore all the freeze and use within a month garbage, and I've never had any problems, and anyway with chicken you can tell when it's foul:rotfl: