Can You Refreeze Chicken? It Depends, According To...

Have you ever ever left frozen chicken out to defrost, solely to order pizza or takeout for dinner as an alternative? Hey, no disgrace; everybody has been there. Heck, that is what makes hen the unsung hero of meal planning — you in all probability determine you possibly can simply toss that dangerous boy again into the freezer for a later date. Not solely would that assist cut down on food waste, however it may even extend the time till your subsequent grocery journey. However what if you happen to’ve left your frozen chicken sitting out lengthy sufficient to defrost? Are you able to refreeze hen safely then? In any case, the very last thing anybody desires is to present their total household food poisoning. It’d be exhausting to stay that mishap down.

In response to the USDA, particular person items of uncooked hen (thighs, tenders, and breasts) may be saved within the freezer for as much as 9 months, whereas complete chickens may be frozen for as much as a yr. However, frozen cooked hen has a shorter lifespan of solely 4 months. Nonetheless, that is nonetheless a very long time. As you could have guessed, although, thawed hen has its personal set of pointers for refreezing and consumption. For instance, frozen hen can defrost within the fridge, in chilly water, or through the microwave. Nevertheless, you possibly can solely refreeze hen thawed within the fridge.

Nonetheless feeling a little bit iffy over the entire thing? Scary Mommy requested specialists for tips about methods to refreeze thawed hen, best by dates, and if there are meals security issues that include refreezing defrosted poultry.

Are you able to refreeze hen after it has thawed?

“There are just a few eventualities to handle right here,” Jenna Werner, RD, a registered dietitian and proprietor of Joyful Robust Wholesome, tells Scary Mommy. “First, there’s a distinction between refreezing defrosted uncooked hen and defrosted cooked hen. Each may be refrozen so long as security measures are thought of throughout the defrost course of,” says Werner, who stresses that not following USDA pointers or refreezing hen exterior of the really helpful parameters may lead to the next danger of food-borne sickness and micro organism progress.

As defined, there are three frequent strategies for thawing hen. Nevertheless, in line with the USDA, one of the best ways to thaw poultry that shall be saved within the freezer once more is within the fridge. “It isn’t really helpful to thaw hen at room temperature or on a countertop. As an alternative, you need to solely be thawing hen within the fridge. Micro organism thrive at room temperature, and if thawing is finished exterior of the fridge, then refreezing is not an choice,” Boston-based dietitian and proprietor of Hub Wholesome, Tava Sternberg, RD, explains.

Is it dangerous to refreeze thawed hen?

Properly, that is form of a trick query. In brief, the reply is not any. Refreezing beforehand thawed meat that has been saved within the fridge for 48 hours or much less is completely secure.

Nevertheless, if thawed incorrectly, sure, it might be harmful to refreeze and eat. “Rooster has a excessive danger of inflicting meals poisoning if not thawed or cooked accurately, as it might be contaminated with micro organism like Campylobacter or Salmonella,” Sternberg explains. “Cooking spoiled or dangerous hen usually destroys floor micro organism, however cooking it might not destroy the toxins produced by the micro organism and may nonetheless trigger meals poisoning.” When unsure, do not take the gamble.

So far as style goes, that’s extra subjective. Once you eat hen that has been refrozen after which reheated, you might discover that the hen tastes a little bit totally different. Werner assures that is anticipated and no trigger for concern: “Refrozen hen can lose a few of its freshness and affect taste and texture as a result of moisture that will get misplaced when thawing. So if you happen to make a dish and it tastes off, it is probably not your cooking.”

How do you safely refreeze hen?

Observe these USDA pointers when refreezing thawed uncooked and cooked hen:

• If you happen to thaw uncooked hen and determine to not prepare dinner it, you possibly can refreeze it. (Sternberg recommends doing so inside 48 hours.)
• If you happen to cooked frozen uncooked hen, it’s secure to refreeze leftovers inside three to 4 days.
• If you happen to thaw cooked hen (i.e., you acquire uncooked hen, cooked it, after which froze it), it’s secure to refreeze uneaten items.

Whether or not the frozen hen is uncooked or cooked, it shouldn’t be unnoticed of the fridge for longer than two hours, or one hour in environments with a temperature above 90°F. If that does occur, toss it. In response to Sternberg, “Uncooked hen lasts within the fridge for about one to 2 days, whereas cooked hen lasts about three to 5 days, so that you shouldn’t be refreezing something that’s previous these markers.”

What number of occasions are you able to refreeze hen?

Sternberg strongly advises solely refreezing hen as soon as to make sure meals security, high quality, freshness, and style. Meaning if you happen to prepare dinner frozen uncooked hen on Monday, the leftovers should return into the freezer by Friday on the newest. You may thaw and reheat these items on Sunday, however you can not refreeze something you don’t eat for a second time.

How do you safely defrost hen?

Whereas we’re as regards to refreezing hen, it is important to know methods to defrost it safely. Listed here are just a few methods to do it that assist maintain micro organism from rising rapidly.

• Use the fridge. You may retailer your frozen hen within the fridge for one to 2 days. Make sure the fridge is about to 40 levels Fahrenheit or decrease. Then place the hen in a plastic bag or container. After it defrosts, you should definitely prepare dinner it inside one to 2 days.
• Place your hen in a pot or freezer bag crammed with chilly water. You should definitely exchange the water each half-hour. After the hen has utterly thawed, prepare dinner it immediately.
• Stick it within the microwave, however solely warmth the quantity of hen you plan to make use of. Use a microwave-safe container and prepare dinner the hen instantly as soon as it has defrosted. Then clear out the microwave after eradicating the hen.

It is also essential to notice that it’s OK to prepare dinner your hen frozen, too. If you happen to’re brief on time, skip the thawing section and make a hen soup or begin making ready a sauce. You should definitely prepare dinner it for for much longer than traditional to make sure the meat is totally cooked. Instantaneous Pots and strain cookers are additionally glorious methods to rapidly prepare dinner down meat. Keep away from cooking frozen hen in a sluggish cooker, as it will probably promote bacterial progress in your hen.

How do you safely purchase hen?

If you happen to use reusable baggage for grocery buying, attempt to use the identical bag to your uncooked meat on every journey. Additionally, wipe these baggage out usually or after every use. When deciding on your poultry, keep away from packages with leaks and examine the best-before date to make sure you’re not buying spoiled meat. Typically, choosing up your frozen and chilly meals on the finish of your grocery buying is an efficient follow, because it retains your meals brisker for longer.

So, go load up on chicken thighs the following time they’re on sale. You’re now the grasp of your freezer future.