Imagine you have to make some quick grilled chicken, but they are frozen, and you do not have the patience to wait for the chicken to thaw before grilling. Peradventure you are inquisitive to know if it is possible to grill frozen chicken.
Yes, You can make your favorite grills with that frozen chicken, and they will come out tasty and well-seasoned. This method is however suitable for some chicken parts and might not be recommended for the whole chicken. You also need to take note of some things while grilling your frozen chicken and that is what we have provided for you, in this article.
Chicken is one of the best and most common dishes in many countries, especially in America.
One reason is that you can cook it in so many ways to have an amazing dish. You can stew your chicken, fry, grill, make in a sauce, roast, and bake it. It is a delicious accompaniment to your meal and is a great source of protein.
It is recommended to thaw the chicken thoroughly before grilling. This article is suggested for you if you are in a hurry to cook the meal, and cannot wait for the chicken to defrost before grilling. When the chicken is well defrosted before grilling, the seasonings can seep into the chicken well, and it also takes a shorter time to cook.
3 Best Ways to Defrost Chicken
Three major ways of defrosting chicken have been provided for you. They are all simple, stress-free, and safe. The time each method takes to thaw out the chicken however differs. Check them out.
1. Refrigerator
One effective way to thaw your chicken is to remove the pieces you would be needing and place them in a dish tray. After that is done, place it in the refrigerator overnight, because it can take up to 24 hours. This method is not suitable if you need the chicken for that same day, and you are just about to start.
2. Use The Microwave
You can defrost your chicken in the microwave by first placing the pieces of chicken or the whole in a dish tray, but not anything that has metal. The glass tray is preferable for this. After that, select the defrost option and input the weight of the chicken you are about to defrost.
Make sure you pause it at intervals, preferably every 2-3 minutes to check the progress.
People complain about their chicken cooking while trying to defrost in the microwave. If you follow this method we have provided, you need not worry about your chicken getting done. It will be well defrosted the way you want, and ready for use.
3. Water
Take the chicken, place it inside the bowl, and place it inside the sink. Pour cold water on the chicken, and let the water be more than the substance in the bowl. Let it sit for about 30- 120 minutes.
Hot water is not recommended, because hot water will begin to cook the outer layer of the chicken. This method is the safest, simplest but not the fastest.
How To Grill Frozen Chicken Effectively
Your visitors have presumably just arrived, and you have just heard the doorbell ring. You completely neglected to thaw the frozen chicken you were supposed to use to cook dinner for your guests or your family due to arrangements and a long and busy day.
Do not panic. We’ll show you two techniques to grill frozen chicken that are both effective and safe. These two methods are suitable for chicken breasts or thighs.
| Oven | Stove |
| Preheat the oven for about 10-15 minutes before placing the chicken. | You can use either a cast iron pan or a non-stick pan when using the stove to grill your frozen chicken. |
| Take a clean baking sheet and line it with parchment paper. | Sprinkle a little oil on the surface of the pan. |
| The next step is to place your chicken pieces on the tray and add olive oil. | Place the chicken pieces on the pan, and do not add any seasoning. |
| Season it and add your spices, according to the recipe that best suits you. | Cover the pan and place it on the stove. After 10-15 minutes, it should have thawed out a bit. |
| Place in the oven, and add half of the initial time the chicken was expected to spend in the oven. | Put your seasoning and turn to the other side to cook also. |
| While this is going on, use your meat thermometer to check if it is ready to eat or if the chicken should sit a little while in the oven. | The total time for cooking the chicken on the pan will be times two of the initial time, so it can cook well. |
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Grilling Frozen Chicken
Take note of these errors and try not to make them.
- You should not grill the cuts of the chicken the same way. The chicken breasts and thighs cannot be grilled the way you will grill the parts with bone.
- Do not add all the seasonings and spices to the chicken at once. What happens is that the chicken can burn, and the appearance might not be pleasing.
- Make sure you preheat the oven before placing the chicken into it. This is extremely important to help the chicken parts to cook well.
- Do not grill your chicken and vegetables together, and at the same time. The vegetables will be done before the frozen chicken, which will have to spend extra time in the oven. When you do this, it can lead to food poisoning.
- Grilling the frozen chicken over high heat is not recommended, as it will lead to the chicken burning without actually cooking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it bad to grill frozen chicken?
No. It is not bad to grill the chicken without thawing it, just know that the time your chicken will spend in the oven has to increase by half the time or more. You should make sure that you do it the right way. We recommend that if you do not need to make use of the frozen chicken urgently, you defrost it properly before grilling.
Is it important I preheat my grill?
Yes. It is extremely important to preheat your grill before placing your chicken in it. It helps your grills to cook better and prevents the chicken from sticking to the tray or grate. Do not forget to preheat the oven for at least 10 minutes before placing your chicken in it.
Can you grill the chicken without defrosting?
Of course! You can grill the chicken without having to defrost it. You will however need to follow the guidelines recommended while doing so.
What is the most effective method of thawing chicken?
The most effective method of thawing your chicken is to place it in a bowl of water. This method is extremely safe and simple.
Is it safe to eat frozen uncooked chicken?
No. Eating frozen uncooked chicken is not safe. Your chicken should be thoroughly cooked before eating, to prevent the risk of food poisoning.
Summary
We have explained in this article that you can grill your frozen chicken but will need to follow the guidelines that have been provided. Also, thawing your chicken before grilling is preferable if you have the time, and just for you, we have outlined three ways to defrost chicken safely.
When grilling your chicken, your meat thermometer is very important to help monitor the temperature of the chicken, to be sure it is safe for eating, and that it has been properly cooked.
More on grilling:
