Grilling has many benefits over other cooking methods. It’s a quick and easy way to cook without all the hassle of defrosting or marinating your food. Frozen chicken grills well because it retains moisture better than fresh meat. The longer meat sits out, the more moisture evaporates, which leads to dryer meat that takes longer to grill.
Different Methods To Thaw The Chicken
1. Refrigerator Method To Thaw:
But the results will be beyond expectations. You will get the juiciest and most tasty chicken for your dinner.
2. Counter Method
This method best works if you have 4 to 6 hours in your mealtime. Just get the frozen chicken on the counter, place it on the plate, and cover it with a paper cloth.
Make the cloth tighter so that it can soak any liquid coming out of the chicken.
Use antibacterial spray from time to time as well.
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3. Using Water
If your chicken is wrapped in a plastic zip bag, there is no other better option than this. The method is easy and will get your tasty chicken with less energy.
Fill a bowl large enough to accommodate the chicken. Use cool water and place the chicken inside it for a while. The chicken will be ready in 3 to 5 hours.
Make sure you change the water every half hour to make the temperature stable.
Do not use warm water, as it will invite a lot of bacteria to your meal.
4. Use Defrosting Tray
Defrosting trays is the best and most hectic-free method to thaw the chicken in less time. These trays are designed to absorb the coolness of the chicken when placed on it.
These trays do not have any electric source or batteries attached. You just place the chicken on the tray, and it starts releasing the liquid. A liquid container is often attached at one end of the tray to collect the liquid.
While buying these plates, make sure you get enough surface area so that you can thaw the chicken in just one turn.
5. Microwave the chicken
This is the fastest and safest method to thaw the chicken, but you have to keep an eye so that the chicken won’t start cooking in the microwave.
Make sure the chicken does not go to room temperature as it will attract bacteria to it. As it’s the fastest method, you should keep the grill ready.
Place the chicken in a microwave-safe bowl and set to defrost setting for 2 to 3 minutes. Make sure the chicken doesn’t start to cook in the microwave.
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Get the chicken out of the microwave and add some dressing, and you are good to grill!
Step-by-step Guide To Grill Frozen Chicken
Step 1: Preheat your grill to its highest setting.
The higher the heat, the better it will sear in juices and flavor! You can always reduce the temperature later if you find your smoker grill is too hot.
Step 2: Clean the grilling grate thoroughly with a wire brush.
Just scrub away any stuck-on bits or pieces of food. If there’s anything left on the grate, it may cause sticking when you place chicken on it, so give it a perfect clean before cooking!
The best way to achieve this is by using tongs to hold one corner of the grill brush against the grate, then push down firmly until all sides are done. The easier method would be to just take tongs and rub the grill brush against the grilling grate in a circular motion.
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Step 3: Oil and butter up!
Coating the grilling surface with oil and melting some butter over it will add extra flavor to your chicken!
Just place a little bit of oil on a paper towel or cooking brush and spread it over the grate using tongs. If you’re using an oil sprayer, just aim for one area of the grate at a time, keeping your hand as steady as possible
Or use melted butter instead. Brush it all over the bars of your cooking grate with either tongs or a basting brush for the best coverage.
Step 4: Place chicken on a hot grill and close the lid.
Close the lid and let the chicken cook for 10 to 12 minutes on each side, turning it over halfway through cooking time.
Step 5: Check the internal temperature of the chicken.
If you still find your chicken is not cooked even after 30 minutes, turn off the heat and leave the lid on for another 5-10 minutes to allow the chicken to finish cooking in its own heat. Once done, remove from the grill and serve immediately!
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FAQs
How do I know if my frozen chicken is done?
You can use a meat thermometer to check the thickness of the breast, thigh, and wing. A fully cooked piece of meat should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit. It can also help to cut into the middle of the chicken and check that there’s no pink showing or any liquid coming out of it. You’ll want to be careful about overcooking your frozen chicken!
My frozen chicken isn’t browning on the grill – What can I do?
You might be cooking it over too hot of a heat. Try cooking at medium heat for longer — this will give the skin time to fry and crisp up! Also, make sure you’re properly oiling your grates before putting your frozen chicken.
How long will grilled frozen chicken stay in the fridge?
Grilled or cooked meat can be stored for 3-5 days in the refrigerator, so feel free to keep any leftover pieces of your grilled frozen chicken! Keep it wrapped tightly and be careful not to contaminate other food.