How to Thaw Chicken (or Really ANY Freezer Meal!)
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As freezer cooking experts, cookbook authors, and self-proclaimed freezer meal evangelists, we’ve learned all the tricks when it comes to safely thawing your frozen food. In this post, we are sharing the 4 best ways to defrost food safely.
We will zero in on how to thaw chicken, since this seems to be the most common question we get. But, please keep in mind that these methods work for all types of freezer meals!
It’s 5 o’clock, the kids getting hangry, and you realize the frozen chicken you meant to thaw is still rock solid and sitting comfortably in the back of your freezer.
Is there a way to thaw chicken fast?
You bet! In fact, we have a few different methods for the BEST ways to thaw your food.
4 Ways to Safely Thaw Frozen Chicken & Freezer Meals
1. Thaw in the Refrigerator
The best and safest way to thaw chicken and/or freezer meals is to put it in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours. Thawing time will depend on the size of the meal, but plan on roughly 5 hours per pound.
Make sure to place the freezer meal on a plate to catch the condensation or leaks as it thaws. Yes, thawing using this method does take some planning. This is why we encourage menu planning as much as possible. In fact, we provide a FREE Printable Menu Plan, as well as FREE menu plans every week on the blog.
But, we know that sometimes life is crazy. And menu planning doesn’t happen. And sometimes that delicious freezer meal needs to be thawed quicker.
Rest assured, there are other ways.
2. Thaw in Cold Water
Another safe thawing option is to place the food in a leak-proof plastic bag and immerse it in cold water, changing the water out every 30 minutes. This still takes a bit of time–anywhere from 3-5 hours depending on how big your meal is, but it’s quicker than the refrigerator option. I’ve found that this option works best when the meal is frozen in a plastic bag like we recommend you do in our 7 Best Chicken Marinades.
After using this method of thawing, cook your food immediately.
Need food even quicker than this? We have another idea for you…
3. Thaw in the Microwave
A third option is to microwave-defrost food in a microwave-safe dish. Defrost your food using your microwave’s instructions. The reason this is the third option (our least favorite) is because this method (especially chicken) can tend to dry out food a bit.
Regardless, sometimes you just need to quickly thaw something, so the microwave it is!
Make sure to cook your food immediately after this method, as well.
4. Cook It Straight from Frozen in the Instant Pot
A fourth, and often forgotten, option for cooking frozen food is cooking it straight from frozen in the Instant Pot. Yes, it’s safe! And yes, it’s as amazing as it sounds. If you prep an Instant Pot Freezer Meal, all you have to do is plop it in the Instant Pot, push a button, and you’re done.
We have tested the cooking times for all types of Instant Pot Freezer Meals, including frozen chicken, and have made a 1 page Instant Pot Cooking Times Cheat Sheet for you. If you plan to cook frozen food in the Instant Pot, this cheat sheet is a MUST.
If you want to see all of the nitty gritty about cooking frozen chicken in the Instant Pot, we have a whole post about cooking chicken breasts in the Instant Pot.
FAQ About Thawing Food
Can you thaw chicken in a crockpot?
I hate to be the one to break this to you, but thawing food in the slow cooker or thawing food on the counter is not safe. Here is what the USDA says about frozen food in the crockpot:
Always defrost meat or poultry before putting it in the slow cooker. If you place frozen meat or poultry in a slow cooker it can spend too much time thawing, allow bacteria to multiply, and make you sick. Using defrosted foods will also ensure your meal cooks evenly and all the way through.
-USDA
Thawing your chicken before putting it in the slow cooker is the way to go. Here is how long to cook chicken in the crock pot by the way.
What is the FASTEST way to thaw chicken? (Or any freezer meal)
The fastest way would be to defrost it in the microwave. Just be sure to use the defrost setting and watch it closely.
Where can I find the BEST Chicken Freezer Meals?
We’re so glad you asked! 🙂 This collection of freezer meals is a great place to start. You can find our top chicken recipes toward the middle of the post.
How is fasted/best way to thaw cancer soup in a ball jar?
Hi Cathi. I think the best way to thaw anything is in the refrigerator overnight. But sometimes we don’t have that time. If you do have a little time, soup in a jar, could definitely be put in a warm water bath to loosen it up and be able to dump it out into a bowl for the microwave. You could also just put the jar in the microwave (sans lid of course) and defrost it a little at a time until it can slip out into a bowl. Good luck!
I forgot to cook my thawed chicken southwest chili. It was in fridge thawed for 3 or 4 days. Is it still safe to eat?
Do you know how long the chicken sat in the fridge before you froze it? You have about 5 total days that it can be thawed in the fridge after purchase usually.
Years ago I bought a metal type “thawing tray” that would thaw meat out in an hour or so on the counter top. I can’t remember what it was made of. I don’t have it anymore. I have seen them advertised here and there. Have you heard of it? What is your opinion?
I’ve never heard that, Crissy. Did it submerge the packaged meat in water, I wonder?
Yes I remember them but I never used it I think mine was made out of granted or Teflon but was supposed to be able to put your frozen meat on it and was to unthawed within a hour
“As Seen On TV” Miracle Thaw. I would buy them at yard sales for $1. It is just a slab of aluminum that was sometimes painted black. If you use them, they are great. If you don’t, then like anything, they are useless. I use them most often as trivets to cool off food straight from the oven. But they can speed up thawing chicken. You must leave air space beneath the thawing plate to allow the aluminum to transfer the heat or cold. This is why the plate didn’t work for many people. They insisted on putting a towel under the plate to catch the ice melt.
Can homemade unbaked freezer meals go straight from the freezer to the oven without thawing first, just baked longer? (Like frozen lasagna from the store?)
It just depends on the freezer meal. Some work well and some don’t. We usually try to included instructions for that if it works well. For this recipe, I think you could do that. It will bake longer for sure. Be sure to cover with some foil if that top starts to brown too much.