How Long Can You Freeze Chicken?

Chicken that are purchased from a butcher are termed as fresh chicken. Those which you buy from the supermarkets in packets are the frozen chicken. Remember, a chicken that has been recently cut and is not stored at a temperature below 26 degree Fahrenheit is known as fresh chicken. Sometimes, you even have to store the fresh chicken in the freezer after purchasing it from the butcher.

Most people prefer to eat frozen chicken as they do not need to go through a major cleaning process as being done in the fresh chicken. You must clean and freeze the freshly cut chicken, so as to avoid the germs and multiplication of bacteria. Bacteria grow very fast on all kinds of perishable meats, fish or poultry at a temperature between 40 and 140 F. Therefore, it is very essential to store the chicken in the freezer until you want to use it.

Well, most of us get confused as to how long can we store chicken in a freezer? It depends whether you are intending to store cooked or raw chicken. Uncooked chicken, when cut in pieces, can be easily stored in the freezer for almost nine months. While an uncooked whole chicken can even be stored for at least one year. Remember, the freezing time of the chicken is also dependent on the state of the freezer and how you have packed the chicken. If the freezer condition is unstable and the packing done is not appropriate, then the chicken might get spoilt within just a few months.

On the other hand, cooked chicken can be stored in a freezer for maximum of four months. Stews and the soups, however, can be stored only for two to three months. It is always better not to store cooked chicken for too long as it is prone to contamination and reduces in taste and flavor when compared to freshly cooked chicken.