Everyone loves a good chicken dinner and if you're a planner, you probably have some chicken stashed away in your freezer right now. Whether you like chicken wings, drumsticks, chicken breasts, or a whole roast chicken, keeping some frozen meat on hand is smart and economical to buy in bulk.
But before you reach into your freezer and get started on dinner, it's important to know how to defrost a chicken the right way. You see, simply leaving your chicken out on the counter to thaw all day is leaving it susceptible to bacteria and foodborne illness. You need to keep the chicken at a safe temperature during the thawing process.
Not to worry, because you just have to follow some basic rules for thawing your chicken. The USDA recommends three main methods for safely and efficiently thawing chicken: in the refrigerator, in cold water or in the microwave. Keep scrolling for tips on all three methods to defrost chicken safely. No matter which method you choose though, be sure to give yourself enough time—rushing the process is not a good idea!
How Do You Defrost Chicken?
Just pick one of the methods below—if you follow these tips, you don't have to worry about ruining your chicken!
Refrigerator Method
The best way to thaw any kind of meat is in the refrigerator—this allows the meat to defrost slowly, evenly and safely. Depending on what cut of chicken you have, this could take two days or even more (thin cutlets will take less time). To thaw your chicken in the fridge, put it on a rimmed baking sheet or a plate (in case any juices leak out of the packaging or bag) and refrigerate until fully thawed; your fridge should be at 40 degrees or lower in order to do this safely.
Cold Water Method
This method is quicker than the refrigerator method but not as quick as the microwave. To do it, keep the frozen chicken in its packaging (or in a well sealed plastic bag) and submerge it in cold water. Swap out the water with fresh cold water every 30 minutes or so to maintain a safe temperature. According to the USDA, a three- to four-pound frozen chicken or package of chicken parts will take about two to three hours to thaw this way. You can thaw a whole turkey this way, too!
Microwave Method
If you're in a rush and don't have a day or two of thawing time to spare, you're probably wondering how to thaw chicken in the microwave. This method can be super fast and convenient, but you'll need to cook the chicken right away as soon as it's defrosted—don't wait a few hours before cooking or stick it back in the freezer. Also note that the microwave method is best for small chicken parts—don't try thawing a whole bird in the microwave.
Like with the refrigerator method, the amount of time you need for defrosting chicken in the microwave depends on the cut and size. You can use the defrost setting on your microwave, but do it in intervals and check on the chicken regularly as it thaws in order to prevent parts of the meat from actually cooking in the microwave. You don't want your meat to stay for extended periods of time in the "danger zone," which is between 40 degrees and 140 degrees, when bacteria grows very quickly.
Can You Defrost Chicken in Two Hours?
It depends on the cut of chicken and the size. Two hours isn't long enough to thaw your chicken in the refrigerator, but if you're just thawing a couple pounds of chicken parts using the cold water method above, it should be fine. (A whole roaster or fryer will take longer than two hours to thaw.) Remember to cook the chicken right away if using this method.
How Long Does Thawed Chicken Last in the Fridge?
According to the USDA, if your chicken was thawed properly in the refrigerator, it's still safe to keep in the fridge for another day or two without cooking. As for the cold water method, if it is thawed completely, you should not pop it back in the fridge. It needs to be cooked immediately. The same goes for the microwave method, even more so, because the chicken is most likely much closer to the 140-degree threshold that risks bacteria.
Can You Refreeze Chicken?
If you want to refreeze chicken, the guidance from the USDA depends on how you defrosted it. If you used the refrigerator method, yes, you can refreeze it without cooking—just keep in mind that the texture may change. As for the cold water and microwave methods, you can refreeze your chicken after it is cooked. You shouldn't refreeze raw chicken if it was defrosted in those ways.
