Preparing food before freezing can save a lot of time. I personally like to spice and marinate food before storing it in the freezer.
A question I often get is whether chicken can be marinated, seasoned, or dry rubbed before freezing.
A whole chicken or chicken pieces can be dry rubbed, seasoned, or marinated before freezing. Chicken pieces should be separated using waxed paper, then placed in a freezer-safe ziplock bag before placing the chicken in the freezer. All packaged chicken should be dated before being stored in the freezer.
Can you freeze chicken with dry rub or seasoning
Yes, it is possible to freeze chicken after seasoning it. Chicken pieces, such as drumsticks, breasts, and wings should preferably be separated using wax paper before placing the seasoned chicken in a freezer-safe ziplock bag.
Any additional seasoning/dry rub should be discarded if it has come into contact with the raw meat. Keep in mind that the seasoning/dry rub will eventually lose its flavor. Spiced chicken can be stored in the freezer for a maximum of eight months before the seasoning starts to lose its flavor.
This technique should yield much more flavor than seasoning after the chicken has thawed because the spices have more time to infuse into the chicken.
ESSENTIAL TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT FOR FREEZING FOOD
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How to freeze chicken with dry rub or seasoning
There is a little secret to creating the most flavorful chicken. Prepare your dry rub/seasoning mix. This technique will work for whole chickens or chicken pieces. Try to lift the skin of the chicken and rub the dry rub/seasoning under the skin.
Apply the dry rub/seasoning under the skin of the breasts, thighs, and legs as well. Be warned though, that this could get a little messy, but it sure does enhance the flavor of the chicken quite intensely.
Add more dry rub/seasoning on the surface of the chicken. Then, separate the chicken pieces using wax paper before placing portions into freezer-safe ziplock bags.
When placing dry rub/seasoning on a whole chicken, simply place the whole chicken in an airtight freezer-safe ziplock bag and write the date on the bag.
Can you freeze chicken after it has been salted
Absolutely. In fact, this is great for creating chicken that retains moisture and is bursting with flavor. This technique works so well because the salt has more time to penetrate the chicken and add flavor to it.
Flavor penetrates the chicken, before it is frozen, during the freezing process, as well as during the thawing process.
The higher the concentration of salt in the meat, the more moisture the meat will hold. You can expect juicy, flavorful, moist chicken after it has been cooked.
There is a specific technique involved in achieving the best results. Sprinkle salt on all sides of the chicken, whether whole chicken, or chicken pieces, and store the chicken in the refrigerator for up to an hour.
Remove the chicken from the fridge and pat the chicken dry using a paper towel. Proceed to wrap the chicken in parchment paper or wax paper and place it in a freezer-safe ziplock bag. Remember to put a date on the bag before placing it in the freezer.
Can you freeze marinated chicken
Yes, absolutely. In fact, much like adding salt to chicken, marinating chicken before freezing it, will ensure that all the flavors from the marinate are locked deep into the chicken.
In addition, marinating chicken in advance saves a lot of time during cooking as you no longer need to plan additional time for the chicken to marinate. Chicken should ideally be marinated for a total of two hours before freezing.
Freezing marinated chicken is very safe as well. Overmarinating is a concern for many. Leaving chicken to marinate for too long could lead to food safety issues and may result in bacterial growth. It is recommended that chicken should not be marinated for more than 24 hours.
Keep in mind that freezing chicken that has been marinated will stop the marinating process. However, this process continues during the thawing phase. To further enhance the flavors, it is best advised to thaw the chicken in the refrigerator over night. This will give the marinate additional time to do its job.
Another important tip to remember is that marinated chicken should be cooked within the first 24 hours after it has been thawed.
Can all chicken cuts be frozen with dry rub, seasoning, or marinate
Yes, all cuts of chicken can be frozen with a dry rub, seasoning, or marinate. However, the key to a successful process is to ensure that the cuts are properly stored using the correct storing bags and/or containers.
The last thing you want is for your chicken pieces to get stuck together during the freezing process. If you plan to season or dry rub chicken cuts, be sure to separate the various cuts by wrapping each piece in wax paper before placing all the portions into a freezer-safe ziplock bag.
Marinated pieces do not have to be separated. Simply place the pieces with the marinate in a ziplock bag or freezer-safe container before freezing.
Always remember to label each bag with the name of the contents, the date that it was packaged, as well as the cooking instructions. Sometimes it can be hard to distinguish between the various contents of the freezer bags if there are no instructions or details regarding the contents.
Can you freeze brined chicken
Yes. Much like freezing marinated chicken, freezing brined chicken has a few important factors to keep in mind. If you are concerned about overbrining the chicken when it is frozen in brine, then you can rest assured because the freezing process actually stalls the brining process.
Ideally, chicken should only be brined for a maximum of 24 hours. After this period, the chicken will become overly salty. The chicken and brine should be placed in a resealable bag, dated, tabled, and then placed in the freezer. A key tip is to try to remove as much air from the bag before sealing it as possible.
A noteworthy fact is that brining will help prevent moisture loss during the cooking process. In fact, up to 22% of moisture will be lost during the cooking process if the chicken is not brined.
Conclusion
All cuts of chicken can safely be dry rubbed, seasoned, or marinated, and stored in the freezer, provided that the correct storage method is applied. In addition, all freezer-safe containers and bags should always be labeled and dated properly before storing in the freezer.
