We can all agree that fried chicken is one of the most delicious foods ever created, especially Southern-style fried chicken. But sometimes you can’t eat it all – don’t worry though, you can freeze fried chicken!
The most common type of fried chicken is southern-fried, thanks to Colonel Sanders. In fact, a study found that around 178.98 million Americans consumed fried chicken in 2020!
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But did you know that southern fried chicken as we know it was created by combining Scottish and West African cooking methods? The frying of chicken in some kind of crispy coating can actually be found in many cultures across the world although in this post we’re mainly focussing on bone-in fried chicken.
Another really well known fried chicken option is Korean fried chicken where the fried chicken pieces are often tossed in a variety of sauces or seasonings. It’s also often referred to as KFC which can create a little confusion with the Colonel’s chicken in the west.
For homemade fried chicken, I love to use this recipe which is always one of my most popular with readers too.
It’s easy to see why so many people love fried chicken. When you get good, golden, tender and crispy coated fried chicken, there’s nothing more irresistible. So there are rarely any leftovers in my house! And when there are, I want to save them!
While fried chicken is always best fresh from the fryer, you can freeze fried chicken safely. So here’s the best way to freeze fried chicken and some tips for how to defrost it safely.
How to freeze fried chicken
- How to prepare fried chicken for the freezer
- How long can you freeze fried chicken for?
- What is the best container to store frozen fried chicken?
- How to defrost frozen fried chicken?
- Can I reheat defrosted fried chicken?
- What can I make with frozen fried chicken?
How to prepare fried chicken for the freezer
First, you need to wait for your fried chicken to cool down – don’t freeze it warm.
You shouldn’t put warm food in the freezer as it can raise the temperature of the freezer, causing other frozen food to partially defrost and refreeze. This thawing and freezing can impact the taste and texture of some foods.
Equally, if you freeze your chicken warm, condensation will most likely build up in the container and impact the freezing.
So when your chicken has properly cooled, you should place the leftover pieces into a container, layered between sheets of baking paper.
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These layers of baking paper will stop the chicken pieces from sticking together. So you’ll be able to take out and defrost pieces as you need them, or if you’re defrosting all of your chicken pieces, it helps them to defrost more evenly.
How long can you freeze fried chicken for?
Once your fried chicken has cooled down, you can place it into a container as directed above and store it for up to 4 months in the freezer.
However, the longer it’s in the freezer, the less tasty it will become – so it’s best to eat it fresh or within a month of freezing.
What is the best container to store frozen fried chicken?
The best container for storing your fried chicken is an airtight container that stays securely closed. You can always find lunch boxes and secure containers in supermarkets or on Amazon.
I like this airtight container as it has a locking lid that will stay in place even as the container is jostled around in a freezer.
It’s important to protect frozen meat from being exposed to air in the freezer, as this is how freezer burn develops.
As I said, I find it best to layer pieces of chicken between sheets of baking paper. This it stops them from sticking together and also helps reduce freezer burn.
What is freezer burn?
Freezer burn is the frosty layer that forms on frozen food as water loss occurs. The process is sort of like evaporation, except it’s due to the cold temperature, rather than superheating water.
When water escapes the freezing food as it’s drawn into the air, it freezes in mid-air and forms a frosty layer. So if you reduce the amount of air in the container, there’s less chance the water from your food will be drawn out as it freezes.
Meat that has developed freezer burn tends to become tougher because it has lost water and the texture alters. So it’s essential to prevent freezer burn from forming on your fried chicken if you want your chicken to stay in good condition.
How to defrost frozen fried chicken?
The best way to defrost chicken is to transfer it from the freezer to an airtight container in the fridge. Then leave it to defrost overnight or for at least 8 hours.
You shouldn’t cook your chicken from frozen, as you run the risk of not heating it through to the centre. If your chicken is heated but not hot enough to neutralise the bacteria, you’re at risk of serious food poisoning.
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Food poisoning can affect people to varying degrees, but people in vulnerable groups are especially at risk. So if you or the person you’re cooking for is pregnant, an older person, a young child or someone living with health conditions, you should avoid serving them reheated food.
Can I reheat defrosted fried chicken?
Fried chicken can be eaten cold in sandwiches and salads, but you can reheat it if you prefer.
Reheating cooked meat is risky but it can be done. You just need to make sure that it is thoroughly and evenly heated all the way through to the centre.
Using a microwave can be unpredictable, as microwaves don’t heat food evenly. Uneven heating can lead to cool pockets in your chicken where bacteria could develop.
So I find using the oven is the best way to evenly reheat chicken. Also, it gives your chicken a lovely crispy skin. Depending on the size of the piece, around 15 minutes on 200°C should work for fried chicken. Though make sure it’s piping hot through to the centre before eating.
It’s safest to use a meat thermometer/probe to check your chicken is heated to a safe temperature. You can usually find meat probes in the kitchen section of a supermarket or on Amazon.
Reheated chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°C so that bacteria cannot survive. So if you’re using a probe make sure that your chicken is at this safe temperature.
I reheat chicken in foil at the start of baking, then uncover it for the last 5 minutes for a crispy coating.
What can I make with frozen fried chicken?
There are so many ways you can eat fried chicken once it is reheated.
Take the chicken and skin off the bone, cut into bit size pieces and use a topping for pizzas or salad. I like this Joe Wicks 10 Minute Speedy Greek Chicken Salad.
Take it off the bone but leave it whole and serve in burger baps with your favourite topping. Or make a club sandwich with bacon, lettuce, tomato and lashings of mayonnaise.
Serve it whole with chips, or mix it up with parsnip or courgette fries. Add a side of coleslaw and some fresh corn on the cob or even mac and cheese and you have yourself a delicious southern style meal.
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