pasta sauce recipes

strawberrypud

One thing I would never mess about with is chicken. I'd either roast it tonight or bin it!

Primrose

I'm included to agree. Chicken is the one meat I'm very fussy about. It can go whiffy very quickly.

Pink.

Hi bitsandpieces,

I think it will be absolutely fine to freeze tonight providing it's been stored properly since you bought it...I do this regularly with reduced items (including chicken). Just check that it smells normal before you freeze it. The chicken doesn't know that it's supposed to go 'off' on the stroke of midnight.

I'll add this thread to the Quick Questions on food safety / sell by / use by dates thread later.

Pink

bitsandpieces

Thanks. I wouldn't have any concerns about freezing it tonight (it has been in a fridge or in the cold since buying and is suitable for freezing). Would this be better than just roasting tomorrow, though, as it will take a day out of the freezer to defrost?

Pink.

Hi tulip,

I think they'll probably be fine. When you open them, just check that they look and smell ok before using them.

As your thread has dropped down the board I've added it to the existing thread on food safety as your query may help others.

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cba321

I once bought a reduced chicken and froze it on the day of purchase, when i defrosted it, it was absolutely rotten, it stunk the whole house out, so you will definitely know if it's off, cause there is no doubting it when a chicken goes off.

sueeve

I would put in the oven right now, with butter, seasong, whatever. For a 3lb chicken I would cook for an hourish or until done), no fancy attention. Then wrap it, into fridge. Tomorrow, carve, microwave if you want hot, add gravy etc. I often do this with a chicken as it is so juicy if not carvd until cold.

she_who_can_not_cook

if you are not feeling up to cooking tonight why not crockpot it overnight then do what you fancy tomorrow eat / freeze or both

soappie

It takes but 15 minutes to joint it and then freeze the separate parts (legs, wings, breasts - filleted - carcass whole ready to boil up for stock when you have a minute)

That way you've got chicken pieces which are quicker to cook than a whole bird..

worbikeman

Strawberrypud & Primrose are right. Chicken for me starts to go off before its sell-by so I would definitely wash it and roast it straight away providing it smells ok (if not - dustbin!). Leave it in the oven for longer than usual to err on the side of caution. After that it should be alright.