Can you fry frozen chicken? - How to do it safely

One of the most frustrating things in life is coming home from a long day at work and realizing you never got your frozen chicken out for dinner.

And now that? You don’t have a back-up plan, you can’t wait for it to thaw, and you certainly don’t want to microwave it; what other options do you have? Well, you could try frying it like the store-bought versions, but is that even possible?

Can you fry frozen chicken?

Although not recommended, you can fry frozen chicken. You will need to increase the cooking time by at least 50% to fully defrost the chicken and cook it evenly. It is also vitally important that you check the internal temperature of the chicken at several points to ensure that it is fully cooked.

If you’re going to fry frozen chicken, it’s important that you follow a few key safety guidelines.

We will not get tired of insisting on how important it is to check if it is fully cooked in more than one point, checking the internal temperature and the color of the chicken in several places of each piece.

Today we will delve into the world of frozen chicken and how to cook it. We’ll also look at what happens if you cook meat from frozen, how to do it correctly, and what different cooking times and methods work best for frozen chicken.

Frozen chicken

The freezer is one of the best inventions since the wheel, and we won’t lie: we are literally dependent on our own!

Freezing food is extremely convenient (especially when you buy in bulk). It helps you free up space in the fridge for those foods that cannot be frozen, such as cucumbers or already thawed leftovers.

It helps you store prepared foods for your weekly meal planning, and always has a last-minute dinner idea somewhere.

But the most frustrating part about freezers is forgetting to thaw or defrost your ingredients before you need to cook them; most of the time you only realize it just when you are about to start preparing the food.

When we realize it, we go through a whole series of emotions in a matter of seconds: shock, anger, frustration, sadness and panic: what other options do you have for dinner? And if you expect guests?

Well, contrary to popular belief, you can cook frozen chicken. The difficult part is choosing the correct method for each piece of chicken and following very strict safety regulations.

The best way to find a cooking method for your particular piece of frozen chicken is to experiment. The size greatly influences how the frozen piece is cooked, and also its shape.

You also have to take into account what you have and how much time you have. No one’s kitchen is the same, so be sure to take notes each time you cook frozen chicken to improve your method the next time you try it.

What happens if you fry frozen meat?

Before we talk about why and how you can cook frozen chicken, let’s first look at why so many people advise against it.

When the meat thaws, the process takes a couple of hours.

During this time, the ice crystals (water molecules inside the meat) slowly melt and the water seeps out of the meat: it’s the water you see on the plate or bowl after something has thawed.

During this thawing period, which again takes place over several hours, some of those water molecules evaporate, leaving much less moisture behind.

The more moisture there is, the less evenly the chicken will cook, as it affects the temperature. Excess moisture is also a problem when trying to marinate frozen chicken, which is also possible, but not recommended.

When you fry frozen meat (whether in a pan or deep fryer), all those ice crystals instantly melt at the same time, causing excess water to be released. This immediately creates an uneven surface temperature.

This increases the chance that bacteria in the uncooked portions will multiply and cause severe food poisoning, campylobacteriosis, and salmonellosis. That is why it has always been recommended to first defrost meat before cooking it.

Not only that, but the released water reacts with the very hot oil and causes potentially dangerous oil splashes.

What’s even worse is that when you’re cooking chicken with other ingredients, like spices, that excess water has the potential to dilute the flavor considerably.

If you don’t know how to safely fry frozen chicken, you can end up with oil burns and salmonella, and have nothing but a terribly bland and chewy chicken dish to prove it.

However, true to form, we have found a way to cheat the system and cook frozen chicken safely! The method you choose depends on many factors, which we will discuss below.

The general rule of thumb is that frozen chicken should cook at least 50% longer than the normal cooking time of thawed chicken. This method is approved by the USDA.

We, however, recommend cooking it for about twice as long. For example, if raw (unfrozen) chicken wings should cook for 5-8 minutes, frozen ones should cook for 10-16 minutes.

It is always better to be safe now than sorry later! Keep this rule in mind when we talk about the other factors of the article.

Choosing a cooking method

As we have already said, you can certainly cook frozen chicken; it is simply a matter of choosing the best method for your particular piece and cooking it for a long time.

The trick is to choose a method that is most effective in not only cooking the food all the way through, but also in creating that crispy, golden outer texture without overcooking the chicken.

Frozen chicken comes in many shapes, sizes, and sizes, all of which will determine how you’re going to cook it frozen.

chicken cuts

There are a ton of different cuts of chicken that can be cooked, from thighs to breasts to drumsticks and even a whole chicken.

The first thing to keep in mind when choosing a method is to think about the size of the piece that you are going to fry.

You won’t be able to fit a whole chicken in a deep fryer (unless it’s a really small chicken), but you can easily fit a whole chicken in a roasting pan.

Also think about the original method used to cook the chicken piece. That method would work better for cooking its frozen counterpart as well.

Whole chickens are almost always cooked in the oven. Chicken nuggets are almost always fried. Chicken fillets are often pan-fried, and so on.

chicken size

Naturally, different cuts of chicken will have different sizes, but even those cuts are not always the same size.

The larger the piece of chicken (regardless of cut), the longer it will take to cook. The same applies to frozen pieces.

Use the general guideline for cooking times, but also use your intuition if you clearly see that the piece is larger.

Can you fry frozen chicken?

Yes, you can definitely fry frozen chicken if you follow the proper method to stay safe.

Choose pieces and cuts that you would normally fry. For example, chicken nuggets, chicken wings, breaded chicken pieces, etc.

If you choose frying as the cooking method, the only difference between the pieces will be the cooking time.

Smaller pieces, such as chicken wings and thighs, will have a much shorter cooking time than a whole chicken breast.

Similarly, partially cooked chicken pieces, such as nuggets and dumplings, will cook faster (even frozen) than their raw counterparts.

We do not recommend frying a whole chicken, as it takes too long and the chicken overcooks. Also, your fryer probably isn’t big enough (unless you have a very small chicken).

Instead, opt to bake a whole chicken as you would when raw. The method is easy. Just add the chicken to the fryer and wait for it to be fully cooked, extending the time accordingly.

As we’ve said before, you’ll need to check the internal temperature of the chicken at several points to make sure it’s completely done.

Can you cook frozen chicken in a skillet?

You can cook frozen chicken in a pan. However, the options are more limited. Choose items that are typically cooked in a skillet, such as chicken fillets or chicken breasts, and sometimes chicken thighs.

Cooking frozen chicken in a skillet is a bit more difficult, as the heat only comes from one side, which means that the item only cooks on one side at a time.

If you don’t keep a close eye on it, you could end up with unevenly cooked chicken, which could lead to food poisoning.

A good tip to keep in mind when cooking frozen chicken in a skillet is to constantly remove any excess water it releases.

You can do this by absorbing the water with kitchen paper or simply pouring it out of the pan.

This will even out the temperature of the pan and the meat and create a safer cooking space by separating the oil from the water.

Can you cook frozen chicken in the oven?

After frying it, we recommend that you cook the chicken in the oven rather than in the pan. The skillet is hot on one side only, while a deep fryer and oven are hot on all sides.

The oven also helps evaporate excess moisture more quickly and has a consistent, even cooking temperature. The oven can handle any piece of chicken, regardless of its coating, shape or size.

We recommend that you place the frozen chicken pieces on a wire rack so that moisture can drip to the bottom without touching the chicken. In this way, the coating is partly preserved, since it does not get soaked by being in the water.

The flavor of the spices and seasonings will also be less diluted.

Not only can you cook frozen chicken in the oven, but you can also reheat frozen fried chicken by combining the oven and, surprisingly, the microwave as well.

How to tell if frozen chicken has been fully cooked

The ways to tell if your frozen chicken is fully cooked or not are the same as how to tell if your fresh chicken is fully cooked.

• Use a meat thermometer. The internal temperature of fully cooked chicken should be about 165°F (74°C). For frozen chicken in particular, take the temperature in the thickest part, but also in another part of the chicken (to make sure it’s evenly cooked throughout).
• Check the color of the meat. Chicken should be white (a meaty cream color) if fully cooked. Anything pink, gelatinous, or clear means it’s not cooked. This sign goes hand in hand with the color of the juices.
• Prick the chicken to see the color of the juices. Red or pink juices mean the meat has not been fully cooked. Cooked chicken has clear juices.
• Follow the cooking times. Don’t cheat by increasing the temperature and reducing the cooking time. A higher temperature will not cook the piece faster, it will just cook the outside more. In the specific case of chicken, there are many risks when it comes to preserving the outer texture and cooking the center well.

How long does it take to fry frozen chicken?

To recap, any piece of frozen chicken, regardless of the method used, should be cooked at least 50% longer than originally stated, preferably twice as long.

The times listed below are only average estimates and your chicken piece could take longer.

Cooking times for frying frozen chicken at 180°C (350°F)

How to fry frozen chicken

1. Heat the oil to 350°F (180°C).
2. Take the frozen chicken out of the freezer and place it in the oil.
3. Fry the chicken for the appropriate amount of time, or until fully cooked.
4. Take the chicken out of the fryer and place it on a wire rack to drain the excess oil.

tips and tricks

• Don’t overfill the fryer. Especially if you’re working with frozen chicken, freezing temperatures will drop the temperature of the oil considerably, which directly affects cooking time. Don’t add too much frozen chicken and instead work in smaller batches to prevent anything from undercooking.
• The lower the temperature, the longer the cooking time . Keep this in mind when following a specific recipe that calls for a lower temperature.

Once you’ve prepared and enjoyed your fried chicken, feel free to take a look at our guide on how to preserve fried chicken to ensure your leftovers stay fresh for as long as possible.

How long does it take to bake frozen chicken?

Baking frozen chicken works exactly the same as frying it; you have to cook it much longer to make sure it cooks evenly.

Baking the chicken is a fantastic method, as the heat is distributed evenly and you can bake it in such a way that there is minimal moisture coming into contact with the chicken.

Cooking times for baking frozen chicken at 180°C (350°F)

How to bake frozen chicken

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).Line a cookie sheet with nonstick baking paper or parchment paper.Place a wire rack inside the cookie sheet, and place the chicken on top.Bake for the appropriate amount of time before removing the chicken from the oven.

Tricks and tips

• Use the fan heater setting. If you have this setting (it helps distribute heat and air evenly), use it. It will help cook the chicken on all sides, ensuring even cooking.
• Check the internal temperature . When using this method, you should check the chicken to make sure it’s fully cooked. Ovens sometimes have hot or cold spots, creating uneven cooking.