HELP! cooking from frozen!

hazzie123

I`ve cooked a whole frozen chicken in the past when I`ve forgotten to take it out the freezer and I think aslong as it`s cooked right through it should be fine.
There are loads of frozen chicken meals where the chicken is raw and it says to cook from frozen.

Clive_Woody

I think with a lot of those ready meal chicken portions, the meat is already cooked before being frozen (cut one in half, I bet it doesn't look like raw chicken inside).

lou26chris_2

Clive_Woody wrote:

I think with a lot of those ready meal chicken portions, the meat is already cooked before being frozen (cut one in half, I bet it doesn't look like raw chicken inside).

I would agree !

sianb84

why not make them up one day cook them and then freeze so they become a HM throw in the oven type thing? That was you have the convience of having them in the freezer but you also know what is in them and they will probably work out cheaper.

RunningRach

Thanks for your replies guys.

I am not sure they are totally cooked before they are frozen as if you cut one open part way through the cooking time they are pink in the middle. Maybe part-cooked magic then!

Will give some a try and let you know how I get on.

Benthosboy

Hi-diddly-hi one and all.

Apologies for this being in the wrong place. (I'm not even going to bother saying "if" coz it's bound to be knowing me :rolleyes: )


I got a chook out of the freezer about 2.00 this afternoon, the intention being to cook it to take away in the m/home. I've just read the destructions and it says it needs 24 hours to defrost before cooking but as I'm off on my travels tomorrow morning, that could be a bit awkward.

Is it safe to cook while still frozen or can I defrost it in the microwave? If pressed, I can take it with me and cook it in the 'van but I'm just a bit, err, "thrifty" when it comes to using my own gas. (actually I'm just a tight-fisted s*d from Yorkshire )

Thanks all.

Martyn.

CRANKY40

Don't cook it from frozen whatever you do. The safest way to defrost it more quickly is to put it in a bowl of warmish water (NOT HOT!) and keep changing the water.

Benthosboy

CRANKY40 wrote: »

Don't cook it from frozen whatever you do. The safest way to defrost it more quickly is to put it in a bowl of warmish water (NOT HOT!) and keep changing the water.

Oh b****r!

How long-ish are we talking to water-defrost a 1.4 kilometer chook?

Gingernutmeg

CRANKY40 wrote: »

Don't cook it from frozen whatever you do. The safest way to defrost it more quickly is to put it in a bowl of warmish water (NOT HOT!) and keep changing the water.

Sorry to contradict, but that's not safe at all - if you do that, all you're doing is creating a perfect environment for bacteria to grow. If you really must defrost meat quickly, then the safest way to do it is to carefully hold it under cold running water (an EHO told me this), keeping it there until no ice crystals or frozen bits remain. Might take a while and you'll get very cold hands lol You need to remember too to wipe down the surrounding area, just in case you've splashed.

And if you're defrosting a 1.4 kilometer chook, then I'd call the record books For 1.4 kilogrammes, I'd say it's going to take you at least half a hour with the cold water method, possibly a bit longer. Especially as you're taking it away with you I wouldn't try to find a shortcut.

beerqueen

You should be able to defrost it in the microwave and then cook it. Not sure of timings - I googled it and it said you should do it slowly, a few minutes at a time and make sure it doesn't start cooking. When it's completely defrosted it won't have any ice crystals inside it.

It said for the cold water method to fill a sink up with cold water, completely submerge and change the water every half an hour - saves getting your hands cold running it under water. And to expect it to take about 30 mins per pound.