If you cook a lot of meat I highly recommend buying a food thermometer. How long the whole thing takes depends on the water temperature and the amount of meat. Simply place your chicken, still wrapped, in your refrigerator and leave it to gradually defrost. Defrosting your chicken with water is by far the fastest method of the three. Thaw in Water Step 1 Place the whole frozen chicken in an airtight bag. Never use hot water to thaw the chicken. How to Safely Defrost Chicken. Ultimately, the best and safest way to defrost poultry is leaving it to rest in your refrigerator overnight. The best way to defrost chicken quickly and safely is to submerge it in cold water. But for the sake of this test, I put those worries aside. Continue to defrost the chicken in 2-minute intervals. This method only requires 30 minutes per 2lbs of meat, and is your best bet for protecting your meat against bacteria growth. Whenever possible, thaw whole chicken in the refrigerator for a day or more. So this leaves you with using your sink and cold water to best thaw chicken safely and fast, according to the USDA. Check on the chicken frequently to feel for ice crystals inside the cavity. The “danger zone” for optimal bacterial growth in food is between 40°F and 140°F (5°C and 60°C). A pound of chicken breast might take just an hour or less, while a … For a whole chicken, allow about 24 hours per 5 pounds of the bird. However, due to the cavity inside a chicken, a whole chicken will defrost faster than a block of chicken wings or breasts. Step 1: Put the chicken in a bag. And this method isn’t just a quick fix for when you’re in a pinch, it’s actually been found as a safe and more effective way to defrost your chicken always. Follow any directions that your microwave gives you. Defrost the whole chicken for 2 minutes. Therefore, make sure that when freezing meat, pieces are arranged in a flat manner. Make sure it's leak-proof. Step 2 Fill a sink full of cold water. If you're thawing chicken breasts or other cuts of chicken, allow about 24 hours per pound of meat. Thawing the chicken in the refrigerator is the recommended method, but it's also the most time-consuming. If you need to thaw a chicken quickly, you can use the microwave or cold water. The defrosting time will vary according to the size of the chicken and the power of your microwave. It may take 1-2 days to thaw a large whole chicken, but this is hands down the best and safest way to defrost a chicken. A whole chicken needs cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit after you thaw it completely to avoid illness. Press the defrost button. You can quickly thaw a whole chicken in cold water or in the microwave, then proceed to cook the chicken the way you prefer. 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