We know that many cooking resources would warn you against cooking frozen chicken. But it’s time you learn that it is acceptable not to thaw your chicken before cooking given that you are fully equipped to tell that your chicken is cooked through.
For this, you need both knowledge and kitchen equipment.
Cooking Frozen Chicken How-To
When cooking frozen chicken, it is best to pop it into the oven or cook it in your stove top. It is not very advisable to grill frozen chicken as it will be very difficult to allow the heat through the insides of the meat.
It also pays to be aware that when frozen chicken is the subject, you will need to extend your cooking time by at least 50% to ensure that no part of the meat is undercooked.
It is quite dangerous to eat undercooked chicken. If steaks cooked rare are acceptable, eating chicken that is partially cooked can expose you to salmonella infection, which can lead to a number of health conditions. It is important that you have a meat thermometer handy to ensure that your chicken is cooked through. Your test for doneness is to reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit of inside temperature on the meatiest part.
Chicken pieces cook much easier than chicken whole. But if you are to cook whole chicken, be sure to wait a longer period of time. Two hours might be needed for your baked chicken to be done. For chicken pieces, 60-90 minutes cooking time might be enough.
To cook frozen chicken, simply lay it down onto a baking sheet, add in your choice of sauce, spices, and other ingredients, and pop it into the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Check your dish once in a while making sure that the insides of the chicken will be cooked through while the outside is kept moist and juicy.
Still, it would be best if you can wait for a longer time to thaw your chicken before preparing it to make a dish for the family. Defrosting or thawing will help all your worries about cooking it right disappear. It is always preferable to cook with fresh ingredients to ensure that your recipe will come out well, good, and tasty.
When defrosting chicken, you have three choices. You can defrost it in cold water, inside the refrigerator, or in the microwave oven. Among the three, thawing in the microwave is faster. But make sure to cook the meat immediately as some parts may already be partially cooked, allowing for bacterial growth.
