Should I store my uncooked marinated chicken wings in the freezer?

Should I store my uncooked marinated chicken wings in the freezer? - From above of closeup of raw chicken legs with seasoning cooking on metal grill grate

Today I have marinated lots of chicken wings. I have to store three-fourths of these in the freezer. I am wondering whether I should keep these uncooked or half cooked. I will keep these in zipper bags for two or three weeks.

I previously kept some half cooked marinated wings and found that was good to defrost. But, I am not sure about the taste.



Best Answer

From a flavor standpoint, the preparation of the wings isn't likely to affect how well they taste after being defrosted. I think you're most likely to notice a difference in texture.

Although you didn't ask about safety, it's very important that you do cook the wings fully after they're thawed, even if you've par-cooked them previously. If the meat is at all raw, there's a possibility that any bacteria present will continue to reproduce and quickly re-colonize the cooked portions. Unless they're cooled from the initial cooking and frozen very quickly, they could stay long enough in the so-called "danger zone" to cause concern.

So, given that you need to cook them fully, partially cooking doesn't gain you anything - you're just damaging (via cooking) some of the meat. That will make the wings drier than they would be otherwise. For the best texture, keep them raw before freezing and cook them completely after being defrosted.




Pictures about "Should I store my uncooked marinated chicken wings in the freezer?"

Should I store my uncooked marinated chicken wings in the freezer? - Marinated Chicken Breast
Should I store my uncooked marinated chicken wings in the freezer? - Assorted fresh fish placed on counter
Should I store my uncooked marinated chicken wings in the freezer? - Roasted Chicken



Quick Answer about "Should I store my uncooked marinated chicken wings in the freezer?"

Freezing chicken in a marinade is totally okay and safe. Freezing stops the marinating process until the meat is thawed. So even if you keep marinated chicken in the freezer for six months, you're good. Just be sure to cook

How long can uncooked marinated chicken wings stay in the fridge?

Answer: You can safely leave marinated chicken in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. But bear in mind that some marinade recipes are designed to work in a matter of hours -- not days.

Do you put marinated chicken in the fridge or freezer?

If you refer to our guide on marinating meat, the ideal time to marinate chicken is just 1-3 hours. It is best to keep the chicken in the refrigerator while marinating to ensure there is no bacterial growth that takes place.

How do you freeze marinated chicken wings?

Freezing chicken in a marinade
  • Label bags with name, date and cooking instructions.
  • Prepare chicken marinade as you normally would.
  • Squeeze as much air out of the bag, then place in the freezer.
  • Freeze for up to 3 months.
  • Thaw completely before cooking as directed in the recipe card.


  • How long can raw marinated chicken stay in the freezer?

    Store the marinated chicken in the freezer. Store the chicken in marinades in the freezer for 6 to 8 weeks. They will be good longer in a deep freeze that is not opened frequently, but for best quality, use them within 2 months.



    7 Chicken Marinades You Can Freeze




    Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

    Images: Julia Filirovska, alleksana, Nothing Ahead, Lukas