How To: Freezing and Thawing
Keep Your chicken fresh, flavorful, and safe.
FREEZING
- Digital instant read meat thermometer
- Oven meat thermometer
THAWING
- You can thaw by immersing packaged poultry in cold water, making sure to change the water every half hour.
- Defrost in the refrigerator, not on the counter, allowing a few hours to a full day, depending on size. A safe guideline is to allow five hours per pound.
- When defrosting poultry in the refrigerator, make sure to put it on the bottom shelf in the back of the fridge.
- Always cook poultry the day it completely thaws. Never re-freeze thawed poultry. Use it or throw it out.
- You don’t need to defrost poultry before cooking. Just multiply the recommended cooking time by 1½.
How Long Will it Last in the Freezer?
Fully Cooked Products | |
---|---|
Breaded nuggets, tenderloins, strips, bites, and cutlets | Up to 6 months |
PERDUE® SHORT CUTS® carved chicken or Turkey breast strips | Up to 6 months |
Turkey meatballs | Up to 6 months |
Ready-to-Cook Products | |
---|---|
Whole Chicken and Whole Turkey or parts | 12 months |
PERDUE® OVEN STUFFER® Roaster | 12 months |
PERDUE® OVEN READY Roaster | 6 months |
Liver or other giblets | 2-3 months |
PERDUE® PERFECT PORTION® Chicken | 6 months |
Ground Chicken, Turkey & Sausage | 2-3 months |
Remember
- Ensure doneness with a meat thermometer.
- Refrigerate any leftover chicken or turkey immediately and use within 3-5 days.