Good Lifestyle

When you go to the grocery store, you often buy for a full week to avoid making many trips. So, if you are not going to prepare these chicken breasts in one or two days of purchase, it's a good idea of ​​the plop in thefreezer To make sure they do not go wrong. But if the next day you decided you wanted to do thatChicken with slow cooker in red wine recipe A few days early? Is your meal sentenced because you are not quite sure how to defrost the chicken in the right way?

Meredith Cariout, specialist in technical information at theUSDA Food and Inspection Security Service, andClaudia Sidoti, leader ofHellofresh, Both provide information on ways to safely enjoy chicken at home so as not to get sick and yourchicken recipe impresses the whole dinner table.

What is the best way to defrost the chicken?

Carothers says there are three safe ways to thaw food:

1. In the refrigerator
2. In cold water
3. In the microwave.

Method 1: Chicken Defrost in Refrigerator

"The refrigerator is the safest defrost method, but takes the longest duration," says Carothers. "You will often need to plan the future when defrosting in the refrigerator to allow the chicken enough time to thaw completely."

Sidoti says that if you know you have at least 12 hours before planning chicken cooking, opt for the refrigerator method.

"This is the best method because it does not expose meat to warmer temperatures and also requires the least attention," she says. "Take your chicken from thefreezer Up to two days before planning the cook. "

Method 2: Chicken Defrost with Cold Water

If you are in a time crisis, the cold water method is a faster method, just like an effective method. The only capture is that the frozen chicken you defroster should be sealed in a package or anti-leakplass bag.

"If the bag leaks, the air bacteria or the surrounding environment could be introduced into the food. In addition, the fabric of the meat can absorb the water, resulting in an aqueous product," says Carothers. "The bag must be submerged in cold tap water, changing water every 30 minutes so that it continues to thaw."

Method 3: Microwave chicken defrost

The fastest method of the three is undoubtedly themicrowave, which has a defrost adjustment. Whatever the quick method you choose (cold water or microwave), one thing remains the same - you still have to cook the chicken immediately after thaw. If you put thawingChicken in the refrigerator To cook at a distinct time, this could invite harmful bacteria to grow on meat and potentially make you sick.

RELATED: Become skinny for life with that14-day flat stomach plan.

Why should not you let the chicken thaw on the counter?

Sorry, but that old chicken on the countertop method is not a sure way to defrost the frozen chicken.

"Perishable foods should never be thawed on the counter because even if the center of the package can always be frozen because it thaws on the counter, the outer layer of food could be in the danger zone, between 40 and 140 ° F, "says Carothers.

It is between these temperatures where bacteria can multiply quickly and they can produce toxins that will not be destroyed through cooking.

Can you still cook the chicken even if it's frozen?

Yes, you can, it inevitably requires a longer cooking time.

"It's preferable for recipes that needlaunder Rather than jumping or frying from excess moisture will prevent meat from becoming crispy outside, "says Sidoti. Now it's time to cook. or to defrost, in fact.