Have you ever thawed chicken to cook for dinner, only to have your plans change? Can you refreeze the chicken for another night? This article will answer all your questions on if and how to refreeze chicken safely.
Meal plans don't always go perfectly. At least mine don't. If I have everything mapped out like in the meal prep for weightloss plan, then it usually works well. However, a lot of weeks, I am winging it.
I’ve had days that have completely gone off course, leaving me with no option but to change my plans. And yeah, I do sometimes throw the dinner lineup aside and scramble some eggs in a pinch.
And in that case, I’ve had to refreeze chicken I've thawed for dinner for use at another time.
I know some of you may think that you have to take the loss and throw the chicken out. But that’s not always the case. So, let's look at the data.
In This Post You'll Find:
Can You Refreeze Chicken?
Direct from the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture), yes, you can safely refreeze chicken. However, you have to make sure you thaw it correctly.
I'll repeat one more time for the people in the back. It is okay to refreeze chicken under certain circumstances if the thawing and refreezing are done right.
No one wants to waste food, after all.
Keep in mind that the texture and even the taste may change. For example, the chicken loses moisture and thus gets chewier after every time it's frozen. That's why thawed chicken benefits from adding a marinade, for example, when cooked to compensate for the lost juice.
That’s a reason why you may not want to refreeze chicken.
How To Thaw Chicken
Right off the bat, the first step to safety with chicken is to thaw it in the fridge.
The USDA has outlined three ways to thaw chicken safely:
- In the fridge: This is the best way to thaw meat and poultry. The temperature of the refrigerator should be 40 degrees F or lower.
- In a bowl of cold water: The key here is that the chicken is to be in leak-proof packaging, and the water has to be changed every 30 minutes.
- In the microwave: Heat the chicken in a microwave-safe dish on the defrost setting. Rotate the chicken at intervals to make sure it is thawing evenly throughout.
Follow the USDA guidelines to always be on the safe side. It’s not safe to thaw chicken on the counter because bacteria can form quickly.
This is important: When you use the cold water or microwave methods, the chicken has to be cooked before refreezing.
How To Store Chicken
Once home, store the chicken ASAP in a container or bag to prevent the juices from leaking over other items in the fridge.
Keep any meat away from unwrapped food, such as vegetables. If you don’t plan to use the chicken within 2-3 days, freeze it immediately.
The main goal here is to keep the temperature down and not have the chicken unrefrigerated.
How To Freeze Chicken
You don’t have to remove chicken from the grocery store packaging to freeze it. It protects the moisture content of the chicken and the flavor. I usually make this decision based on the packaging. Costco-type packaging where I have a few 1-2 servings in plastic goes straight in the freezer. For a large pack with lots of chicken, I will break it apart into smaller amounts.
Put the chicken in a freezer-safe resealable bag and squeeze as much air out as possible before zipping it closed. If you prefer to leave the chicken in the original packaging, wrap a layer of foil or plastic wrap around it to prevent freezer burn. This way, the chicken does not dry up and look grey.
Frozen chicken has to be kept at a temperature below 0 degrees F. If not frozen quickly, the resulting ice crystals will make the meat dry and chewy. Frozen and refrozen chicken, when stored properly, can last in the freezer for up to one year. For best quality, though, use before 9 months.
How To Store Thawed Chicken
If you plan to refreeze thawed chicken, do so as soon as you know you won’t be using it. If the thawed poultry has been in the fridge for longer than 2 days, it might be contaminated with bacteria. Don’t use it and don’t refreeze. I know, it's a byummer, but it is the safest thing to do, and what is recommended by the USDA.
What Changes When You Refreeze Chicken?
Every time you thaw chicken, it loses moisture. When the freezing process takes place, water content is lost. So, when chicken is frozen the first time, part of the moisture is lost. When thawed and refrozen, another round of moisture loss takes place.
This is one reason why buying frozen chicken is not ideal. Some of the moisture is already lost, making it not as appealing as fresh. Sometimes, chicken is frozen because it is near the best-before date, meaning the store may have been overstocked. The best poultry to purchase is fresh – and remember, check the best-before date.
How To Cook Refrozen Chicken
Because the texture and taste may change, you should cook the chicken in a soup, stew, on nachos, or in a casserole. You won’t notice the changes quite as much.
Remember, any time you cook chicken, do not leave it on the counter any longer than 2 hours or it will be in the danger zone for bacterial growth. If this happens, you should discard it.
Cooked chicken can be kept in the fridge for 3 to 5 days and in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Should I Rinse Raw Chicken Before Cooking It?
No, it is not a good idea to rinse chicken before you cook it. When you clean the raw chicken, bacteria on the chicken may spread to utensils, the sink, and countertops. It’s unnecessary because if there are bacteria on the surface of the poultry, it will be destroyed when cooked.
Healthy Chicken Meals
Ready for a chicken dinner tonight? Now that you have the scoop on chicken and how to purchase, store, freeze, and thaw it, it’s time to look at some tasty recipes. From a chicken breast to a thigh to wings, chicken is a fave in my house. Try these!
- Shredded Chicken Enchiladas
- Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Meal Prep
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken
- Healthy Chicken Fajitas Meal Prep | Meal Prep On A Budget (Just $3.37!)
- How to Meal Prep - Chicken (7 Meals/Under $5)
How To Handle Chicken In The Store
How you buy your chicken is a pretty important part of the safety aspect of it.
You may not know, but chicken can easily be contaminated with Salmonella and Campylobacter (the harmful bacteria that causes food poisoning) if you are not careful.
While some people will get sick and recover within a few days, others are more at risk of complications. Pregnant women, people with immune system disorders, adults over 60, and kids 5 and under can all have more problems if infected.
So, keep this in mind and follow these simple rules for food safety, in this case chicken:
- Keep kids clear of the poultry section in the store (don’t let them handle packaging)
- Always use the same reusable bag for your poultry purchases
- Wash your grocery bags often, especially if they transport raw meat
- Check that the chicken package isn’t leaking when you buy it
- Always check the best before date
- When filling your grocery cart, pick up cold and frozen items last
- Don't leave chicken on the counter sitting at room temperature (thaw in cold water or the fridge)
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