Chicken is one of the most popular meats to eat, but it doesn't always have the longest use by date, so many of us choose to freeze our chicken to preserve the freshness until we want to use it.
It's important that any meat is defrosted fully to ensure even cooking. After all, the last thing you want is a chicken that is cooked on the outside but raw inside.
While you might remember to get your chicken out of the freezer the night before so that you pop it in the fridge to defrost ready for the next day, it's easy to forget. But don't worry, as there are a couple of easy ways you can defrost your chicken easily, ready for you to eat later.
How to defrost chicken fast in the microwave
One of the most popular ways to defrost chicken fast is by using your microwave. You'll need to be careful however as leaving it in there for too long or on the wrong setting, can mean the chicken is unsafe to eat.
• Place the chicken (one or two pieces at a time) onto a microwavable plate and use the defrost setting for one minute at a time.
• Keep checking the chicken to assess if it has defrosted or not.
You should not leave the chicken in the microwave for too long as the chicken could start to cook. You must also cook your chicken straight away after it's been defrosted.
How to defrost chicken fast in water
Thawing chicken in cold water might sound strange but it's safe and easy to do.
• Pop your chicken in a sealed sandwich bag so that no water can get in and contaminate the chicken.
• Place the bag in a very large mixing bowl.
• Fill up the bowl with cold water and submerge the bag of chicken in. You should make sure the water is cold as using warm or hot water is not safe and will promote bacteria growth on the poultry.
• Change the water every 30 mins.
Depending on the amount of chicken you are defrosting, the chicken will thaw at different times. Typically 500g of chicken will take about an hour to defrost, but be sure to check your chicken and if it hasn’t defrosted after this time, continue changing the water. Once the chicken is defrosted, cook the chicken immediately.
How to tell when chicken is properly defrosted
The best way to make sure your chicken is properly defrosted, ready for cooking, is to make a small slit in the thickest part of the chicken breast or thigh. You should then insert your finger into the slit and have a feel. If you can feel ice crystals or the flesh is solid, you'll need to defrost for longer but if the flesh is soft, you're good to get cooking!