Breaded chicken is delicious and versatile. You can have it as it is with fries and peas, or you can use it in a recipe. Try it in a bun with salad, dolcelatte cheese, and coleslaw. Spoon over pesto and then melt mozzarella on top and serve with a rocket salad. Add it to a salad or rice bowl. For extra flavor, add parmesan to the breadcrumb mixture.
Breaded chicken is a great meal staple so can you freeze it so that you have it on hand for quick and easy midweek meals? The simple answer is yes, and in this article, we will tell you how to freeze breaded chicken. It isn’t difficult but it does take a little time. However, it is worth the trouble.
How To Freeze Breaded Chicken
1. Cook the chicken to your favorite recipe.
2. Cool down the breaded chicken.
You must ensure that the chicken is cold before you freeze it, otherwise, it will bring up the temperature in the freezer and other food will start to defrost and may then spoil. Transfer the chicken to a cold pan to speed up the process. Don’t leave the chicken at room temperature for longer than two hours as after this time, bacteria may start to develop.
3. Flash-freeze the breaded chicken.
Put the breaded chicken on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper. Make sure that the pieces of chicken aren’t touching as that will stop them from sticking together when you come to bag them up. Put the tray of chicken in the freezer for around four hours or until the chicken is frozen completely.
4. Put the breaded chicken in a freezer bag.
Wrap each piece of chicken in cling film as an extra precaution against the pieces sticking together. Put them in a freezer bag and squeeze out all the air to prevent freezer burn. Freezer burn will ruin the taste and texture of the breaded chicken. Alternatively, put the chicken in an airtight container. Put a label on the bag or container with the date and contents.
5. Freeze.
Tips For Freezing Breaded Chicken
- Flash-freeze the breaded chicken. This stops the pieces from sticking together.
- Squeeze out the air from the freezer bag to prevent freezer burn from occurring. One way of doing this is to almost close the bag and then insert a straw. Suck out the air and then quickly close the bag.
- Add flavors to the breadcrumbs such as herbs and spices. Try basil and parmesan, chili, red pepper flakes, garlic and rosemary, or sage and thyme. Don’t forget salt and pepper.
For How Long Does Breaded Chicken Freeze?
You can keep the breaded chicken in the freezer for up to three months. After this time, the taste and texture will start to deteriorate and there is a chance that bacteria will start to form.
How Do You Defrost Breaded Chicken?
The great news is that, because the chicken has already been cooked, you don’t need to defrost it. All you have to do is take the chicken out of the freezer and put it on a baking tray. Put the tray in the oven and cook for between 15 and 20 minutes. Make sure that the chicken is cooked all the way through. It is useful to have a meat probe to check the temperature. The internal temperature of cooked chicken should be 165 F.
If you defrost breaded chicken in the fridge before cooking, the breadcrumbs will become soggy.
Can You Refreeze Breaded Chicken?
You should avoid refreezing breaded chicken as the taste and texture will be compromised. In addition, and perhaps even more important, refreezing meat can cause bacteria to be formed and you could end up being sick if you eat it.
Is It A Good Idea To Freeze Breaded Chicken?
As long as you flash freeze the breaded chicken and ensure that it is airtight, it will freeze well. Freezing doesn’t change the taste and texture of breaded chicken so you will be able to enjoy it as if it were fresh.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, you know all there is to know about freezing breaded chicken but in case you are still curious, we have answered a few questions here.
As long as you store the chicken in an airtight container or a strong freezer bag with the air squeezed out, it will last for up to four days in the fridge. If you want to keep it for longer, you will have to freeze it. It is best to freeze it as soon as you have cooked and cooled it down. If you keep it in the fridge for a couple of days it will lose taste and texture and it is also an open invitation for bacteria to develop.
Battered chicken is a bit more of a luxury as well as a hit on the calories. However, if this is the way you enjoy chicken, you can freeze it in the same way as breaded chicken. You can also keep it for up to three months in the freezer and you should cook it from frozen. If you defrost it in the fridge, the batter will fall apart.
A chicken cutlet is a piece of chicken breast that has been cut in half horizontally so that you have two thin slices of meat. The good news is that you can freeze it. Wrap each slice in cling film and then bag it up. Ensure that you keep raw meat away from cooked in the freezer otherwise cross-contamination may occur.
