Should I throw this chicken away?

[La Sombra]

A few months ago--gosh, maybe even like a year ago--I bought a whole, organic, free-range chicken from the grocery store and immediately froze it.

Basically what happened is this: a few weeks ago, the freezer (which is a normal top-freezer configuration) was so full that the door didn't close all the way and we didn't realize it. It was open enough, and long enough (about 14 hours) that all the popsicles melted to liquid. Everything was still cold, but definitely defrosted. I didn't even think at the time to check the chicken (it has just occurred to me as I'm making plans to finally roast it!) so I don't know how thawed out it got but I'm assuming considerably because of all the other stuff. Also, it was/is right in the front of what is a smallish/normal-sized freezer so it wasn't exactly in a deep-freeze to begin with.

I'm thinking if this had happened with sausage or something like that I wouldn't worry but I don't know about chicken. Should I be throwing this out?!

TIA!

[noobmom]

It's probably fine. I've taken a solidly frozen chicken out of my freezer before and put it into my fridge and it's still mostly frozen the next day. They take about 2-3 days to thaw completely in the fridge and I'm guessing your freezer was at least that cold even cracked open slightly. However, I tend to err on the side of safety so while I personally might eat it and serve it to my husband, I wouldn't serve it to any young children or eat it if I was pregnant. Or I might just use it for something like making stock/boiled chicken where I felt more confident that it would be cooked completely through.

[La Sombra]

Thank you! Incidentally, I *am* pregnant...although hopefully not for long--being 8.5 months pregnant in this heat is getting a bit old!

I think I will err on the side of caution, too--thanks again!

[rhiOrion]

if i thought the freezer had stayed at least as cold as a fridge, i'd treat it like chicken i had thawed in the fridge. so i'd eat it within a few days

[peaceful_mama]

Hmmmm

It sounds like it might have thawed and refrozen....as you said that happened a few weeks ago and you're just now getting ready to cook it.

I have always heard you're *not* supposed to thaw and re-freeze meat.

That said, a few weeks ago, i was at the store about to buy some boneless skinless chicken breast.....and all the packages were FROZEN. The shelf was also full, so I am assuming someone just stocked it.

So maybe this is *why* I've always heard that?? (that was the first time I found frozen meat in the 'fresh' section of the store....)

Also when the freezer broke once at a daycare I worked at, I got to be part of the cleanup....we had to throw out pretty much *everything* that was in there.

hmmm I think my DH would cook and eat it probably. He regularly thaws out a pack of meat and re-freezes part.

*I* do NOT do that....but have learned to be oblivious to most of what *he* does and have survived 7 years of marriage.....

So....hmmm....*I* personally would probably throw it out....though if you are the stock-making type, that might be OK.

[sunnygir1]

I would cook it and eat it. I'd make sure (with a thermometer) that it got up to a fully cooked temp (185). You could always try it out on your husband/partner and then eat it yourself the next day if he doesn't get sick! I really wouldn't be worried that it would kill me, myself.

[Artichokie]

you are never supposed to cook thawed and refrozen chicken, so i would say no.

[JElaineB]

Originally Posted by peaceful_mama

Hmmmm

I have always heard you're *not* supposed to thaw and re-freeze meat.

Originally Posted by Artichokie

you are never supposed to cook thawed and refrozen chicken, so i would say no.

According to the USDA it is safe to refreeze meat that has been thawed in the refridgerator: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Basics_...d_Handling.pdf

In the OP's case it seems unknown how long the meat was thawed, or what temperature it reached, so I would err on the side of caution and probably not use it myself.

[CherryBomb]

Yeah, I think the issue with refreezing meat is if it's been thawed at room temperature. Thawing in the fridge and then refreezing should be fine. I'd say the chicken is okay if it never got to room temp.