Is it safe to boil frozen chicken and eat it?
I know boiled meat isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but every now and then my dog has a bout of pancreatitis and boiled chicken breast is the easiest food for his little body to digest while he gets back to normal. Toward the end of this last episode, the only chicken I had was frozen and I didn’t want to wait to defrost it in the fridge. I could have defrosted it in the microwave, but I was curious–can you boil frozen chicken?
After a quick Google search, it seems the overarching belief is that if chicken is boiled from its frozen state, whomever shall partake of it, will surely die a slow, painful death. I don’t know about you, but whenever I am within earshot of such panicked certainty, I immediately doubt whatever has been said. That’s when I gave up on finding the answer from the masses and turned to the experts at the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
Turns out, we can all rest a little easier now. Chicken can be cooked from its frozen state, but there are some important rules to follow.
First and foremost, get out that handy-dandy thermometer and check the chicken as it cooks for an internal temperature of 165°F. The FSIS says it will take about twice as long to cook a frozen chicken than a raw one and I found this to be true when I boiled a single chicken breast for my dog. Instead of taking five minutes to boil, it took just a little longer than ten minutes.
Second, only cook chicken on the stovetop (as in boiling) or in the oven (as in roasting). Do not try to cook frozen chicken in the microwave or in a slow cooker. In those instances, always defrost it first.
Let’s all take a deep, calming breath now, knowing that there is one less thing in life to be worried about. As long as you abide by those two rules, no one is going to die a slow, painful death because you boiled frozen chicken.
For more information about safely handling chicken in the kitchen, go to the Food Safety and Inspection Service website.
Thank you SO much for posting this!
I started to boil some frozen chicken breasts about five minutes ago, and cut to see how far done it was, and saw that the inside was terribly rare. Which was when I decided to look on google and see how long it should take… Just as you found, just about everything said NOT to boil frozen chicken. But I had already started! Luckily, this post wasn’t too far down on the list of results, and I read it before I totally panicked. I’m glad I doubted the legitimacy of the claims as much as you did and looked further into it…
Thank you for your comment, Emily! I’m so glad everything turned out alright with your chicken!
Very helpful! I was nearly sure boiling frozen chicken was a safe way to go but it has been so long since I’ve had the need it was nice to find your article! Thank You!
Thank you for your comment! I’m so glad you found the article to be helpful. Safe and happy eating!
Hey, I just wanted to thank you for your article on this website. It was just what I was looking for!!! I think it is funny that even old Betty Crocker doesen’t even have a recipe for boiled chicken…or for that matter, boiled chicken soup!!!
My border collie Josie has an enlarged heart and has been put on a bland diet…boiled chicken and rice. All I have is frozen chicken thighs…guess I’ll hafta debone it after it’s cooked!!!
Josie and I thank you from the bottom of our (enlarged) hearts!!!
Thank you for your comment, Josie’s Mom. It couldn’t have come at a better time. Just yesterday our little guy for whom I used to boil chicken lost his battle with diseases contracted by old age. It’s nice to hear that that article, inspired by my dog Parka, is helping others do good for their furry family. Here’s hoping Josie responds well to her bland diet and all the efforts you’re taking to keep her with you! Best wishes! ~ Sherry (“Parka’s Mom”)
Pingback: Yielding to serving size in recipes | Kitchen Dilettante