Chicken Farmers of Canada
Did you know that uncooked chicken pieces will keep in your freezer for up to six months? And a whole chicken can be frozen for up to a year? Stocking your freezer with chicken can be a great timesaver, but you can also save money if you buy chicken in bulk and freeze it.
Before you put your chicken on the deep freeze, there are a few things to keep in mind. It’s important to seal the chicken in an airtight container or in a heavy-duty freezer bag. Wrap your chicken in plastic wrap when possible to ensure that freezer burn doesn’t creep in. Keep the wrap tight, because small ice crystals will start to form where there are gaps. Label your frozen packages with the date and contents to help make sure you can keep track of what’s in your freezer.
It’s best to divide your chicken into small, meal sized portions. This way, when you need to defrost you’ve got the perfect amount of chicken, eliminating unwanted leftovers. Thawing the chicken will also be faster if you’ve got it in smaller packages.
Try cutting your chicken before freezing to save an extra step when you do end up cooking. Cut your chicken into strips and use it for something like our Italian Stir-Fry, sometime in the future. To save even more time, you can freeze your chicken right along with a marinade. When you defrost it, the marinated chicken will be ready to go. Just remember to discard any excess marinade not cooked with the chicken to avoid contamination.
To ensure even cooking, remember to thaw your frozen chicken properly before you cook it. Never leave foods out on the counter or in the sink to defrost, but in the refrigerator overnight, in cold water (changing the water every 30 minutes) or in the microwave, rotating to ensure an even thaw.
No Comments