Cooking, freezing, recooking, and refreezing chicken
I boiled a whole chicken, then froze the cut up parts. I then cook different meals but want to know if I can refreeze the leftovers from the dinners.
Best Answer
Yes, you can. You're not facing a food safety issue at all except possibly for violating the "time in the danger zone" rule, and then only if, in fact, the rule has been violated. Look at What do I need to know about temperature and food safety? for more on that. For what (admittedly little) it's worth, I find the strict interpretation of that rule (2 hours, cumulative) overly conservative in a home environment assuming healthy, non-pregnant, adult eaters, but that's not my call to make concerning your food.
What you may face is a quality issue. The texture of your chicken may be negatively effected by refreezing. The smaller your pieces of chicken, and the saucier the dish, the less likely it is that you will notice this negative affect on the chicken.
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Quick Answer about "Cooking, freezing, recooking, and refreezing chicken"
It is perfectly fine to refreeze cooked chicken, as long as you store and handle it properly. Cooked chicken can only be refrozen if it has been defrosted in the fridge and has not been allowed to heat up to higher than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.Can you freeze cook and refreeze chicken?
You can safely refreeze raw and cooked chicken within their respective shelf lives. Still, only refreeze raw chicken that has been thawed in the refrigerator. When handled properly, it's safe to refreeze raw and cooked chicken within their respective shelf lives.Can you refreeze meat that has already been cooked and frozen?
The answer is yes. But pay attention to the way you thaw and, conversely, the way you freeze. Most foods previously frozen, thawed and then cooked can be refrozen as long as they have not been sitting at room temperature for more than two hours.How to Safely Freeze Cooked Meats | 1 Minute Tips | DJ BBQ
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