How To Defrost Chicken In The Microwave

You know that feeling; you’ve been planning that perfect roast chicken all day. The potato bake is in the oven, the salad is all ready to go, and you suddenly realize that you have forgotten to thaw the chicken. We’ve all been there!

So, the question is, how do you go about defrosting a chicken in a microwave? Can it even be done, and if so, what is the best way to thaw a chicken in the microwave?

Why is defrosting a chicken in the microwave such a convenient option?

Here are a couple of reasons why you’ll love the option to thaw a chicken in the microwave:

1. Speed: microwaving is a super speedy way to defrost a whole chicken. It takes a couple of minutes (usually) to partially defrost a chicken in the microwave, as opposed to hours in the refrigerator.
2. Space saving: popping your chicken into the microwave to defrost it is a real space saver as opposed to the fridge. Save valuable space in the refrigerator by going from the freezer straight to the microwave.
3. Convenience: defrosting a chicken in the microwave is a super convenient method for anyone short on time. It eliminates the need to plan ahead!

It’s important to note that some food safety organizations do not recommend using a microwave to defrost a chicken; they prefer you to thaw the frozen bird in the refrigerator instead.

Check out these interesting chicken articles.

• Chicken Wings Internal Temperature
• How Long to Boil Chicken Thighs
• How Long to Bake Chicken Wings at 400

A step-by-step guide to defrosting a whole chicken in the microwave

To start with, you’ll need to make sure you have a microwave-safe dish, some plastic wrap, and of course, a microwave.

Here are the steps to thawing a frozen chicken in the microwave:

1. Remove the plastic wrap: Remove any packaging or plastic wrap from the chicken and place it in a microwave-safe dish. The dish should be large enough that the chicken can rest inside without its sides touching the dish.
2. Cover the chicken: cover the chicken with a clean sheet of plastic wrap and make sure it’s securely wrapped. Securing it this way will prevent the chicken from drying out. Wrap the bird completely in plastic wrap so that there are no pockets of air. Doing it this way really ensures the bird doesn’t dry out.
3. Place the dish into the microwave: you’ll want it to sit in the center. Set the machine to the defrost setting. If your machine doesn’t have a defrost setting, use the lowest power setting.
4. Check the chicken every 5 – 8 minutes or so. Turn it around every now and then. To ensure an even thaw, monitor the chicken regularly and keep rearranging it. This basically distributes the heat evenly.
5. Check internal temperature: use a food thermometer to ensure the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 40°F or a little lower. It’s important that you don’t defrost the bird to a higher temperature as bacteria can begin to grow, which has food safety implications. 

These are a few steps on how to safely and quickly defrost a whole bird in the microwave. It’s important to note that defrosting a chicken in the microwave is not a good idea for larger birds like turkeys.

Defrosting a turkey in this way can lead to the outer layers cooking before the inside has defrosted. The best way to thaw large birds is in the fridge.

Tips and tricks for defrosting a chicken in the microwave

Here are a couple of pro tips and tricks for defrosting your chicken in a microwave:

1. Don’t leave the chicken in the microwave for too long. This can lead to the chicken drying out or partially cooking in the middle.
2. Ensure the microwave is clean before placing the chicken inside. This is a good way to prevent cross-contamination from any bacteria lurking inside the microwave to your chicken.
3. Place the chicken on a microwave-safe dish before placing it onto the base inside. This will keep the microwave clean.
4. Remove all packaging first. Don’t forget to check inside the bird as some retailers will include the gizzards wrapped in plastic and placed inside the bird’s cavity.
5. Use microwave-safe plastic to cover the bird and add a microwave-safe lid over the container you have set your chicken in.
6. Check your chicken constantly. Keep flipping it and making sure it is thawing evenly.
7. Cook the chicken immediately after thawing it to avoid the growth of bacteria.

How to defrost a chicken in the refrigerator

If you’d like to try defrosting a chicken in the fridge, here are the steps. This method is a little slower but is generally considered the safer method for thawing frozen poultry.

1. Remove the chicken from all of its packaging. Place the chicken on a shallow plate and discard the packaging.
2. Place the chicken in the refrigerator and allow it to defrost. This can take anywhere from 24 hours to 2 days, depending on the size of the bird, how full the fridge is, and how cold it is. Planning ahead to get this done in time is an important success factor when choosing this method.
3. Sit your bird on the bottom shelf. Choosing this spot for it will prevent any blood and raw juices from dripping down onto other food items in the fridge. This is a key step in the prevention of food contamination.
4. Cover the chicken with plastic wrap to keep the bird moist and prevent its natural juices from evaporating.
5. Check on your chicken constantly. You want to cook it the minute it’s ready to reduce bacteria growth.
6. Store any additional raw chicken in the fridge. This is the safest way to store chicken. Do not leave it out at room temperature. Note that defrosting chicken at room temperature is not recommended.

Wrapping it up

Defrosting chicken in the microwave is certainly a quick and convenient method for thawing your bird. It’s important to take note of the safety-related guidelines to get this done right. I hope this article has assisted you with some practical tips and tricks for how to get your bird defrosted quickly and safely.