Cooking Frozen Foods

I've had luck cooking it frozen in the crockpot. You just have to cook it for a long time.
I love this website for finding crock pot recipes.
http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/

Microwaves are awesome for defrosting chicken! While defrosting,they cook the chicken on the inside which eliminates cooking time in half. If you like you can actually defrost and then cook the chicken in the microwave -quick and easy!

It amazes me how many people are paranoid about chicken! My mom is health board certified and all my life has defrosted frozen meat in HOT water so she can cook it quickly. With 4 kids and her & my dad's work schedules barely leaving time for dinner (they always alternated with one working days, the other nights), it was the quickest & easiest. I didn't know anything about salmonella until I was a teen & a friend of mine saw me defrosting some chicken this way and freaked out. =o)

ANYWAY... I buy the individually frozen boneless, skinless, precleaned chicken breasts from Sams. It says plainly on the package that you can cook from frozen and even gives directions how. I've only ever tried this in the crock pot though because for most recipes I dice my chicken first.

Happy Cooking!

Hi, T.!

I think cooking frozen chicken is the best and easiest way! I just pop 'em in a baking pan, season, and cook slowly on low heat, and those babies come out juicy and tasty! Cover them with foil while you're cooking them. I like to cook mine for about 3 hours at 325 degrees.

Have fun cooking your frozen chicken!
S. Williams
SAHM of 7 (ages 2 to 14)

You can take the chicken the night before while you are at home and put it out to thaw. It will begin it thaw stage and before you go to bed wrap it in Saran and put it on a plate or dish and put it back in the refrigerator. It doesn't have to be totally thaw. It will continue to thaw at cold temperature while you are at work and when you get home it should be ready to go. Sometimes it might seem a bit still frozen but when you wash it, it should be fine. You can take boneless chicken breast and clean them, season them, put them in a pyrex baking pan or any baking pan and dot them with butter. Cover with foil and bake in the oven for 30 - 35 minutes at 350 degrees and they are done. Serve with rice or pasta or whatever you like along with any type vegetable. I like to season them in a little salt, pepper, garlic powder and lemon pepper or sometimes season them and roll them in bread crumbs and bake them. Great everytime, quick and simple. But you should always thaw chicken and really any meat prior to cooking. You can thaw in the microwave but you have to be careful that you don't cook the meat. Read the directions for your microwave for defrosting. Good Luck.

NO The chicken should be thawed and washed before cooked.
After thawed and washed inside and out with cool water from the tap. It can be seasoned for baking---bake at 350 for about 1 hour. Or boiled til for tender through the breast. If you do not know how to cook a whole chicken buy one that is cut up for boiling. Happy cooking

Hi - With the exception of frozen prepared entrees from the grocer freezer section, I cannot think of anything that you would cook frozen. Most items need to thaw before cooking.

Here are some quick tips -

Microwaving - rule of thumb...8 min per lb for for frozen/raw veggies. cook for 4 min, stir and cook for remainder of the tiem. Adjust the time according to the power of your microwave.

Microwaving - rule of thumb....3-4 min for 4-5 slices of bacon depending on how crispy you like it. Get a micro bacon tray. Cover with paper towel when cooking. save the drippings for later use (cornbread / eggs / seasoning - my grandmother taught me how to cook <smile>)

Microwaving - ground meat...6 min per lb. This is my favorite!! Get a micro tray with cover and strainer. Crumble up 1 lb of ground meat. Cook 3 min, stir and cook 3 min. Again, gage time according to the power of you microwave. All the fat and by products in the meat drain away so it is much healthier to eat. To save time, you can cook several lbs ahead of time and keep each cooked lb in a seperate freezer bag. Great for preparing spaghetti, hamburger helper, ect.

How to get kids to eat veggies.....if your kids refuse to eat veggies, fool them with V8 juice. When you prepare something that calls for tomato sauce, use V8 instead or add to the tomato sauce. Adjust the amount to compensate for consistency.

Recommendation - get yourself a crock pot with a timer and a crock pot cook book. You throw everything in the bowl, set the timer, come back hrs later and it is all done.

Good luck and happy eating.

I know beef can be cooked from frozen safely. I would say chicken should be at least mostly defrosted as it cooks so much easier than frozen. But, it depends on how you are cooking it. I sometimes put mine in the slowcooker frozen with good results. But, frying? it will probably explode. Baking? It will just take a lot longer and won't get done evenly.

you don`t cook a frozen chicken, you have to thaw it out first.

H.

you need to cook it when it's fully thawed.
I usually use chicken breast leave them out in the sink for about 1 to 2 hours and it works great, also you can you your microwave to thaw it it works great too.
when you put it on a pan add a little bit of water and cover it. it keeps it juicier-
G.

T.,
Its best if you thaw the chicken.Rather than be guessing when will it be done.If you have an idea when you want to cook it take it out about 4 or 5 hours ahead of time.Thawed ckicken will take about 35min. for drumsticks, 40 min for thighs and about 50 min for breast at 350 degrees,preheat oven.Frozen it can take up to well over an hour. Good-luck

P.S it wasn't a silly question.

Please always thaw chicken in the refrigerator!

It may seem convenient and quick to thaw it in the sink or on the counter. However, when thawed this way the outer portion (skin, meat) thaw's quicker than the meat near the bone. This allows all kinds of bacteria to grow and multiply on the surface of the chicken. Which leads to food poisoning - salmonella, E Coli, etc. Always thaw in fridge and cook until done (clear juices, 180 degrees with meat thermometer)!

Frozen boneless breast usually take a day to thaw in the fridge so put it in the fridge (from freezer) Sunday Night to cook it Tuesday for dinner. Whole chicken takes a couple days to thaw in the fridge.

Throw raw chicken away that has been in the refrigerator (after thawing completely) for more than 3 days! It spoils fast so cook it whenever it is thawed.

HTH

Yes, you can cook a frozen chicken, but you have to cook it no higher than 350 degrees and cook it much longer than usual. J.

Hi T.,

I just wanted to add that I buy the frozen boneless, skinless breasts in the bag at Sam's or Costco and they are GREAT!! You can cook them from frozen on the grill or in a George Foreman type grill. I've never cooked them from frozen in the oven but I know in the crockpot is fine because they go for a long time.

Good luck and happy cooking!
M.

You can cook it frozen. The night before your going to use it put it in the fridge. Also throwing one on a George forman grill is always tastey! The betty crocker cook book with the red and white checks is a great basics cooking book. Best of luck.

Hi T.-

As Heather pointed out, the problem with cooking frozen chicken is that it takes so long for the center to cook fully that you run a higher risk of it being undercooked. However, I find that if you are cutting up the chicken to be cooked first, for example, cubing it to make stir fry or fajitas, it will cook just fine if it is frozen. I have carved up many frozen chicken breasts into smaller pieces and they've cooked very quickly and thoroughly. If you are cooking a whole chicken or chicken breasts it is best to thaw.

Good luck,
K.

T.,

Chicken must be thawed before you cook it. I would use a meat thermometer to make sure it's done.

Peace,
C.

As a full-time working step-mom & wife, I sometimes forget to pull things out of the freezer. So when I do, I pull the frozen, boneless, skinless chicken breasts out of the freezer. My trick is to spray a skillet w/a lid with cooking spray, then put the frozen chicken in on VERY LOW heat with the lid on. I season it lightly while it's still frozen. When it's about 3/4 of the way done I take the lid off and turn up the heat some so that it will brown up a little and the extra liquid will cook off. I season it again at that point. Ihis usually takes about 20-25 min, and gives you time to either ger your sides ready, or to relax for a few min. because it's a very low maint. way to get dinner ready.

I've cooked frozen chicken casseroles and pot pies, but never a whold frozen chicken. Is this a chicken you bought and it was either already frozen or you put it in the freezer? I'ed thaw it first because they come already packaged with lots of unwanted fat (to add to the weight). And I'ed be sure to wash each piece. If you're planning to cook it whole, I suppose you plan to bake it in the oven. Some chickens come with neck and giblets packaged inside the cavity. I really don't recommend cooking a whold frozen chicken.

I'm not trying to be argumentative...however...you can thaw chicken in the sink. You just have to know how to do it. I am certified by The Galveston County Health Department. It is perfectly acceptable to thaw foodstuffs in the sink. And for those of you who think you cant do it...you might want to stop eating out....this practice is legal and COMMONLY used in restarants all over the Houston/Galveston area.
I often will cook chicken breast that is partially frozen. I have never tried a whole chicken, however, it seems that if you were baking it, it would thaw as it cooks.
Hope you find the answer you are looking for.

Margaret

Well, I really depends on what kind of chicken it is. Is it bone in pieces, or boneless skinless breask pieces? You can cook boneless skinless pieces from frozen. It usually takes about an hour cooking at 375 degrees. In fact you can buy them in packages to cook that way-then you never have to worry about your fresh chicken going bad before you cook it.If you are cooking any other kind of chicken, it is definitely best to thaw it first. You can thaw it in the microwave if it is a last minute thing.
Cooking seems intimidating to a lot of people, but it is really pretty simple. You can bake, broil, roast, or pan saute (fry without drowing it in oil) any kind of meat, potatoes or veggies. If you aren't sure about times and temperatures just do a search for what you are wanting to make, for example, "baking boneless chicken breast"....you are bound to find directions and great recipes from tons of places. Check out Rachael Ray's website....they have lots on info. I go there a lot when I am unsure of something.
GOOD LUCK....you will be cooking in no time!!

Here are some super easy ways to cook frozen chicken, and it is very good and juicy. I cook frozed legs, thighs, breasts on 400 in the oven for 45 min- hour. You can dress with any spice or just plain old bbq sauce. Also, I put frozen chicken in the crockpot for 4 hrs on high, or 8 hrs on low. Very good, and you can shred it for tacos etc.
I ALWAYS use a thermometer to make sure it is done. I make mine go til 180 degrees to be safe with the kiddos. Hope that helps!

Also, a super fast way to thaw is to boil in a pot of water, then pull out when you can stick a fork through them..usually 5 min.

Ladies, ladies, ladies, you never ever put frozen meat (especially poultry) in the slow cooker. This could lead to an illness. The slow cooker does not cook to tempature right away and there are several hours there that germs can multiply. Always thaw out your meat. There is a defrost button on your microwave, if you forget to put your meat in the fridge the night before. YOu just have to watch the microwave. CB

Unless you put it in the slow cooker or are making soup you want chicken to thaw fully before cooking it. Because of the toxic nature of raw chicken, it is very important that it be cooked thoroughly. The outside cooks faster, so you can have golden fried chicken with blood running on the inside. That's both gross and dangerous.

When I first started cooking chicken, I was a bit paranoid about cooking it thoroughly, so I would boil it first, before frying or baking. Now, I still do that and keep the broth for future use.

Hi T., I have always thawed mine before cooking. I think I will try one of your other poster's suggestions, however (to bake frozen). Good idea. Anyway, I never think as far ahead as some do (to thaw in the refrigerator) so I thaw them in a large bowl of cold water in the sink. One to two hours should do it. If I'm in a huge hurry, I'll use warmer water to speed up the process. I know this is not the method suggested by many but I assure you it's safe unless you let it sit WAY too long! If the center is slightly frozen, it's fine. ...unless you will be deep frying or frying with oil in a skillet, as oil and water do not mix. Good for you for trying to learn new techniques in the kitchen! By the way, if you are looking for good chicken recipes, I love www.allrecipes.com! It is database full of recipes that everyday people have added to it.

Thaw it first for the best results. Your microwave might have a thaw setting. Otherwise you can put it in the sink under cold water and keep changing the water for an hour or so. If you have time, thaw overnight in the fridge. Good luck!

Hi, Raw chicken is risky because it can have bacteria on it. I've slow cooked frozen skinless boneless chicken breasts in a soup pot with some chicken stock and made great chicken and dumplings with it once it is thawed. I've also put skinless boneless chicken breasts in the crock pot frozen and made a meal of it by slow cooking it for 6 or more hours. I don't make a habit of this. If it has bones you have to thaw it first. The same goes for Turkey. Good luck.L.

Either I put it into the corckpot with a little water & seasonings sprinkled on it (cook this for about 6 hours on high or I make it into soup.
If you have a microwave you can defrost it carefully in there following the defrost directions for your microwave.

If it has bones, you must thaw it! otherwise the blood will rush to the bone, and it is kind of gross when you eat it! If it is say a boneless , skinless chicken breast you can cook it frozen, just use a little less heat, so the outside doesn't burn before the inside is cooked.

Dear T.,

If I buy a whole frozen chicken, I usually let it thaw, and then I cook it in a pot of water. But, I have before put the frozen chicken into the pot of water - just have to cook it longer. Maybe two hours instead of one or one and a half.
If you have frozen chicken breasts, I think you could put them into a skillet with a little water, turn the heat onto very low, put a lid on, and cook. Just keep an eye on it. What you are doing is thawing them quickly.
I usually thaw my chicken before I cook it, though. You can put the package of chicken, still wrapped, into the sink, and put some lukewarm water in there, and they will thaw quicker than in the refrig.
If you ever wanted a delicious recipe for chicken enchiladas, just ask. They are good and not too hard. Eveyone likes them! I got the recipe from my mother, and gave it to my daughter, and all three of us make it often. It's that good!
J.
P.S. I'm not a fancy cook, but I have cooked for a long time, so I would be happy to give you advice anytime.

I don't recommend trying to cook frozen chicken.

Let it thaw out completely, if it is whole chicken be sure
and clean out the insides!

If you are going to fry the chicken then it must be completely thawed. If it is not being fried then slightly frozen is fine. Often when I'm baking chicken the center will still be frozen. It is fine, just make sure you cook it completely. Check the inner temp with meat thermometer or cut it open to make sure the center has NO pink in it.

Also, it is safe to thaw the chicken in very cold water--as long as you keep the water very cold not allowing it to become room temp--and you cook it immediately. Otherwise, thaw the chicken in the fridge. I usually put frozen chicken breasts in the fridge the night before I plan to cook them or I thaw them in the sink with very cold water (wash and pat dry with paper towels afterwards).

Hi T.,
Hi T.,

Yes, the best way to cook frozen chicken is to make sure it is completely defrosted. That's if you are buying fresh chicken and freezing it, if not you can oven bake the pre-frozen chicken piece in the oven. I enjoy cooking and cook nightly (M-F) for my family. I will be more than happy to share recipes with you. Email me at ____@____.com and tell me what type of recipes you are interested in cooking. I am happy to help.