Can You Cook Chicken Again to Make It Safe
Nosotros all have that 1 question in the dorsum of our minds – tin you lot refreeze cooked chicken?
If yous ask the same question, then this post is for you. I will share with you the facts and tips on keeping cooked craven prophylactic for after use.
Then, can you refreeze cooked chicken?Yes, you tin refreeze cooked craven as long as information technology was not left at room temperature for more than than two hours.
Just refreezing cooked chicken is not recommended because information technology will touch the quality of the food.
If freezing is your only option to save your leftover, then you lot might want to consider the tips I am going to share below.
How to refreeze cooked chicken correctly?
Every bit mentioned, refreezing cooked chicken is not often recommended. This is due to the fact that refreezing can negatively bear on the overall quality of the cooked meat.
But if you really want to try this road, you need to make certain that you lot do everything right.
This involves thawing the cooked craven for the first time in the refrigerator. The thawing process may last for twelve to 20-4 hours.
The tedious thawing process helps to preserve the quality of the cooked chicken.
But if you are dealing with a leftover cooked chicken that was previously frozen and reheated, then the leftover should be popped in the freezer immediately.
Do not thaw your cooked chicken at a high temperature because information technology will allow the bacteria to grow rapidly.
This is the main reason why yous should not refreeze cooked chicken that was previously thawed at room temperature.
Room temperature is perfect timing for rapid bacterial growth that will make the cooked chicken unsafe to eat.
Also, do not refreeze a cooked chicken that was thawed in hot water or in the microwave.
The same reason is applied in this case. High temperature promotes rapid bacterial growth that volition result in contamination.
If you are planning to refreeze your cooked chicken, avoid these instances to keep the meat safe.
Why refreezing cooked chicken is not always recommended?
Well, there is a good reason as to why nearly people especially food experts do not recommend the refreezing cooked chicken.
And the main reason is that refreezing cooked meat deteriorates the meat's quality. The longer the meat is refrozen the higher the chance of losing its taste and texture.
Although such changes will not cause impairment, you won't be able to relish the refrozen cooked chicken equally earlier.
The factor that affects the quality of the cooked meat during the refreezing procedure is the crystals formed during the procedure.
Those crystals tend to break down the cells of the meat which will result in a mushy texture.
If you actually want to refreeze the cooked chicken for the second time, I propose that you consume it inside one to two days.
This is to minimize the impairment of the meat during the refreezing process.
Aside from the quality issue that you may encounter, refreezing also brings the possibility of bacterial contamination.
If you accept been visiting and reading some of the manufactures I published on this blog, yous might already know that freezing does non impale bacteria.
It only slows downwards bacterial growth. Then if the meat is existence thawed at a high temperature, the bacteria can grow rapidly once more.
This means that if you refreeze the already thawed food, there will be more than bacteria than before existing in the meat.
Needless to say that refreezing is non the safest thing you lot can practise with your cooked chicken.
How to cook refrozen craven?
Suppose that you have successfully refrozen your cooked chicken for another 24-hour interval or 2.
The time has come up to use information technology. The next thing you need to do is to get the refrozen cooked chicken out of the freezer and reheat it before eating.
The skilful news is that the reheating process is easy. You do not need a caste in culinary arts to do it correctly.
You just need to follow the recommended steps I laid below.
Here's how you tin can cook or reheat refrozen chicken correctly:
- The offset matter you demand to do is to transfer the refrozen cooked chicken into the refrigerator and leave it at that place overnight. This will allow the craven to completely thaw.
- Afterward the craven is completely thawed, reheat it. You lot can choose whatever reheating method y'all want to use. Only whatever you cull, make sure that the temperature is high plenty to impale the bacteria in the meat. The recommended minimum temperature is 160 degrees Fahrenheit for at least two minutes.
Now for some reminders: It is important to remember that once you reheated the refrozen chicken, y'all should not refreeze it again.
Refreezing tin can only exist done once to minimize the quality deterioration of the meat.
Furthermore, refrozen cooked chicken that is thawed at room temperature for besides long should be discarded. I e'er recommend taking the safer route.
Lastly, do not thaw refrozen craven unless you intend to use information technology within the 24-hour interval or in the next twenty-four hours.
How many times can you lot reheat refrozen craven?
For safety and quality purposes, merely reheat your refrozen chicken once.
As mentioned, both refreezing and reheating processes can negatively impact the prophylactic and quality of the meat.
And so if you repeat the refreezing and reheating procedure several times, the cooked craven may non only lose its quality merely also crusade safety issues.
Can y'all refreeze the chicken after thawing on the counter?
Unfortunately, I do not recommend refreezing craven thawed on the counter.
Equally mentioned, thawing at room temperature allows the bacteria to grow pretty apace therefore compromising the safety of the meat.
The best thing you can practise with your craven thawed on the counter is to cook it immediately.
But if the chicken is left on the counter for likewise long, it is improve to discard it than cooking it.
The USDA has the same recommendation. Bacterial contamination is the main reason.
And then you lot need to ensure the prophylactic of the food before you lot consider consuming it.
Final Thoughts
If you take leftover cooked chicken that was previously frozen, thawed, and reheated, do not worry because you can refreeze.
That is right. You lot can refreeze cooked chicken but you tin can only exercise that once. This is because refreezing tin can negatively affect the quality of the meat.
It is also important to call up that you can only refreeze cooked if information technology is properly thawed in the fridge prior to reheating.
Cooked chicken thawed at room temperature should not be refrozen.
This is mainly due to bacterial contagion that can quickly happen when the food is exposed to a high temperature.
Whatever nutrient that is thawed at room temperature should exist cooked immediately instead of freezing it.
Freezing will non impale the bacteria making the food unsafe for future utilize.
I hope this helps. If you want to learn more almost freezing foods, feel free to visit my guide here.
Reference
USDA: Food Safety and Inspection Service
Source: https://foodsquestions.com/can-you-refreeze-cooked-chicken/
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