Adding raw chicken to a meal that is being reheated
So, a friend of mine told me they frequently add raw chicken to their (already cooked) leftovers when reheating (in a pan) to top them up. Though they stress that the chicken is completely cooked by the end of the reheating.
I feel like this is extremely unsafe in terms of food hygiene and food contamination, but apparently my friend and most of their family members have done this quite frequently without issue.
Other than the reheated food being overcooked and degraded in quality, I am not sure how I could explain that this isn't a safe practice. Or am I completely wrong in this matter?
Best Answer
If a dish, any dish, leftovers or otherwise, has raw chicken added to it, then is cooked until said chicken is fully cooked, it is then safe to eat. There is nothing from what you describe that justifies assuming that the way the dish is handled would be unsafe.
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Quick Answer about "Adding raw chicken to a meal that is being reheated"
The Science and Safety of Reheating Chicken: It is technically ok to reheat chicken, but you need to check that every single part of your chicken reaches a temperature of at least 175°F to ensure dangerous bacteria are killed. You can do this by using a food thermometer.Can you add raw chicken to already cooked chicken?
1 Answer. Show activity on this post. If a dish, any dish, leftovers or otherwise, has raw chicken added to it, then is cooked until said chicken is fully cooked, it is then safe to eat.Can chicken be warmed up twice?
Chicken is no different from other meats, and you can reheat it safely two or more times. When you reheat chicken, it is important that you properly heat it the whole way through. Pieces of chicken must be steaming in the middle.Can you reheat raw chicken?
How Often Can You Reheat Chicken? It doesn't matter how chicken meat is cooked the first time, it is only safe to reheat it once. Similarly, the chicken can be reheated in a microwave, a frying pan, in the oven, on the barbecue, or even in a slow cooker. Remember: Reheated chicken meat must be consumed in one sitting!Can you add cold chicken to hot food?
It's perfectly safe. You just have to ensure that whatever you are making from the cold chicken in your recipes is reheated thoroughly before you serve it. No cold spots in the middle and you're fine!Kitchen hacks | How to reheat chicken or any meat without drying it out: Chef Rahul Akerkar explains
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