Chicken is a versatile food that can be prepared in a wide variety of ways and incorporated into a wide variety of dishes. The issue is that fresh chicken has a rather limited shelf life, and if it is left out for too long, there is a strong possibility that germs may start to develop on it.
The chicken will stay much fresher for a longer period of time and have a longer shelf life if it is frozen. However, there are still certain dangers associated with freezing chicken.
Does chicken that has been frozen go bad? Because the freezing process stops the development of germs, chicken may be stored in the freezer forever; but, after a given amount of time, the quality of the chicken will decrease (both in terms of flavor and texture), and there will be an increased risk of freezer burn.
Even while the chicken may not literally spoil while it is in the freezer, the quality of the meat could decline to the point that it is unpleasant to consume.
It is important to keep an eye out for any indicators that your chicken has gone bad since it is possible that it had already deteriorated before being frozen. Continue reading to get all of the information you want!
Is It Possible For Chicken To Go Bad In The Freezer?
The chicken will maintain its quality for a longer period of time if it is frozen beforehand. As an example, a raw, entire chicken may be stored in the freezer for up to a year, but it can only be stored in the refrigerator for a few days at most.
This suggested time limit specifies when the chicken will continue to maintain its best quality; after 12 months, the chicken will lose its best quality and become dry since the freezer burn will have caused it.
Because of this, the chicken is rendered almost inedible, and it is possible that it is not even worth eating.
However, when chicken is frozen, the development of germs is halted, and this means that the chicken cannot go bad in the sense that it rots or that it may potentially cause you to get ill from eating it.
If the chicken is removed from the freezer and allowed to thaw at room temperature, bacteria development might resume, and the chicken may go bad over time; however, the chicken will not go bad while it is still in the freezer.
How Long Can Chicken Be Frozen For?
The length of time that chicken may be stored in the freezer is influenced both by the section of the bird that is being frozen and by whether or not the chicken has been cooked.
If it is properly wrapped and stored at a temperature that is consistently below 0 degrees Fahrenheit, a raw chicken that is still in its whole may be frozen for up to a year.
The maximum amount of time that raw chicken pieces or diced chicken may be stored in the freezer before beginning to lose their optimal quality is nine months.
The maximum amount of time that chicken that has been cooked may be stored in the freezer is six months; beyond that, there is a significant risk that the flavor and texture will no longer be the same.
Keep in mind that the quality of the chicken will decrease the longer it is stored in the freezer, despite the fact that it is OK to keep chicken frozen for the suggested amount of time listed above.
The most effective course of action is to store the chicken in the freezer for a period of time not exceeding a few months.
How to Freeze Chicken So That It Doesn’t Go Off and Waste Your Money
In an environment in which there is increased development of germs, chicken that has been frozen and stored at a temperature that is maintained constant will not go bad; nonetheless, the quality may quickly deteriorate over time.
After a certain amount of time has passed, the chicken will no longer have the same flavor and consistency, but it is still perfectly OK to consume from a dietary perspective.
You need to prepare the chicken appropriately for freezing in order to avoid freezer burn from occurring too quickly and to maintain the chicken’s highest quality for a longer period of time.
A lot of people put the chicken in the freezer while it is still in its original packaging. While this could work for a little amount of time, it does not provide the chicken with adequate protection against freezer burn.
When freezing chicken, it is important to take it from its original packaging and store it in a freezer bag that can be sealed again once it has been defrosted. This will help the chicken to maintain its highest possible quality. Before you could start the sealing process, you would have to get rid of as much air as you could.
You also have the option of placing the chicken inside a freezer-safe container that is sealed. Regardless of the option you choose, you need to make sure that the packaging has the date that it was frozen on it so that you may utilize it within the allotted amount of time.
If you repackage the chicken before freezing it, it will be able to keep its best quality in the freezer for a longer period of time. This means that when you do decide to eat the chicken, it won’t be to freezer burnt and will have a decent flavor and texture.
How to tell if the chicken has gone bad and what to do about it
Because it might be difficult to determine if your chicken has gone bad while it is frozen, you will need to let the chicken partially or fully thaw before deciding whether or not it is safe to consume.
Once the chicken has been completely or partly thawed, there are a few telltale indicators that it has gone bad that you should watch out for!
Bad Odor
The presence of a rancid odor in chicken is one of the first warning signs that the chicken has gone rotten.
Chicken should not have an unpleasant, sour smell; if you detect any peculiar aromas, it is best to dispose of the chicken as soon as possible since it is a clear indicator that it has gone bad.
Discoloration
The skin of a chicken should be pink, and the flesh should be pinkish and transparent, with white fat. If the chicken seems to have any spots or discoloration that are grey, yellow, or green, you should not eat it and instead discard it.
Any strange coloration on the chicken is a strong indicator that it has started to spoil and should not be consumed since it is no longer safe to do so.
Having a Slick Feeling
If the outside of the chicken has a slimy feel, this is another indication that the chicken has gone bad (or is just starting to go bad).
It is not possible to remove the sliminess by washing it off or cutting it away; it is much more prudent to just toss it away.
The Preferred Method for Thawing Chicken
In order to retain the chicken in the best condition possible and to avoid an increase in the development of germs while it is thawing, it is imperative that you defrost it in a safe manner.
There are three methods that may be used to properly thaw chicken, and the one you choose to use will depend on how much time you have available to let the chicken defrost!
1. Within the Refrigerator
The chicken should be allowed to thaw in the refrigerator overnight for the most thorough and risk-free defrosting experience. Depending on the size of the chicken, you may let the chicken defrost in the refrigerator for anywhere from 12 to 24 hours.
You will need to make preparations in advance for this, but it will enable you to allow the chicken to defrost at a temperature that is not favorable to the development of germs.
After having been placed in the refrigerator to thaw, the chicken may then be stored there for up to two more days.
2. While Soaking in Ice-Cold Water
If you do not have the time to let the chicken thaw in the refrigerator overnight so that it is ready to use the next day, then you may try to defrost the chicken in a cold water bath instead.
In order to do this, you will need to pour ice-cold water into a big basin. It is important that the dish be big enough to accommodate the chicken. Depending on how much chicken you are going to be thawing, fill the bowl up between half and three-quarters of the way.
After placing the chicken in a bath of cold water, let it sit there until it defrosts. It should take around an hour for little quantities of chicken to thaw, but it may take up to three hours for bigger pieces of chicken to defrost completely.
In order to maintain a low temperature and protect the chicken from overheating as it thaws, you will need to replace the water every half an hour. After it has been defrosted, the chicken should be cooked right away.
3. Inside a Microwave Oven
You may thaw the chicken in the microwave for a speedy solution to the problem. You will need to take the chicken out of its package and set it on a dish that is suitable for use in the microwave.
Put the microwave onto defrost mode (or reduce the wattage to half). For a full chicken, set the timer for 10 minutes for each pound of chicken, and for chicken breasts, set the timer for 7 minutes per pound.
Once the chicken has been defrosted, it should be cooked as soon as possible.
A Few Parting Thoughts
If it is maintained at a steady temperature, chicken that has been frozen won’t go bad in the freezer since the development of germs stops when it reaches freezing temperatures.
Chicken may be spoiled in the freezer if it is not covered enough or if it is kept in the freezer for an excessive amount of time. Both of these scenarios are possible.
This results in freezer burn, which causes the chicken to lose its best quality, causing both the flavor and the texture to not be as good as they might have been.
It is important to bear in mind all of the telltale indicators that the chicken has gone bad and to ensure that it maintains its highest possible quality, the chicken should only be frozen for the period of time that is advised.