So you were thawing some frozen chicken out and you notice some water pooling in the chicken’s package.
We all know that spoiled chicken can make you sick so does seeing some water in the chicken’s package when thawing it out mean the chicken went bad?
Chicken that has excess water in it while defrosting is still safe to cook and eat as long as the chicken has not been thawing with internal temperatures of 40° to 140°F for more than 2 hours. Simply dry off the excess water and cook the thawed chicken as you normally would.
So seeing water in the chicken’s package when defrosting frozen chicken does not automatically mean the chicken is bad.
As long as the chicken was thawing in the fridge, in a bowl of cool water, or quickly in the microwave then the chicken will be safe to cook and eat.
The USDA warns that any meat or chicken that is left in the danger zone of 40°F to 140°F for 2 or more hours will be unsafe to eat due to bacteria growth.
This is why you can safely thaw frozen chicken in your fridge overnight or for multiple days since refrigerators are usually kept at temperatures below 40°F.
Now let’s cover the best ways to thaw frozen chicken so that no water seeps in.
We’ll also provide tips on what to do if water does seep into your chicken while defrosting.
Reasons Why Water Gets in Chicken While Defrosting
There are a few reasons why you may notice water in the chicken’s packaging when defrosting frozen chicken:
1. Ice in Chicken Will Melt into Water
The most common reason why you may notice water in the chicken’s packaging when defrosting frozen chicken is simply that the ice is melting.
Frozen chicken, especially chicken that has been frozen for a few weeks, will have built-up ice in the package. Once defrosted, the ice will melt and turn into water.
Do not be alarmed if the water has a red or pinkish color from the chicken since that does not indicate that the chicken is bad or spoiled.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that the “[pink liquid] is mostly water that was absorbed by the chicken during the chilling process.” So the chicken is still perfectly fine to eat even if you notice pink water.
2. Water Seeps into Chicken’s Packaging
Another common reason why you may notice water in the chicken’s packaging when defrosting is that water from the bowl or sink may seep into the chicken’s packaging.
An effective method for thawing chicken quickly and safely is to place the frozen chicken in a bowl of cold water. However, the water can also seep into the chicken’s packaging if there’s a small tear.
So do not be alarmed if there’s water in the chicken’s packaging or if the bowl of water has been exposed to raw chicken.
Simply rinse out the bowl with soap and dry off the thawed chicken and both will be safe to use.
Is It Bad if Water Gets in Chicken While Defrosting?
So back to the ultimate question – is it bad if water gets in the chicken’s packaging while defrosting?
Chicken can get wet while defrosting and still be perfectly fine to cook and eat. As long as the internal temperature of the chicken is not sitting anywhere from 40F to 140F for more than 2 hours, the chicken will still be safe to cook and eat.
So if you defrost the chicken overnight in the fridge or in a bowl of cold water, the raw chicken will not have an internal temperature higher than 40F meaning it will be safe to cook.
You can defrost chicken quickly in the microwave which will raise the internal temp of the chicken above 40F and below 140F, but because the raw chicken has not been sitting at this temperature for more than 2 hours before being cooked which means it’ll be safe to eat.
So always make sure that the chicken is defrosted slowly below 40F or quickly in the microwave so that you can cook it before the bacteria get a chance to spoil the chicken.
How to Thaw Frozen Chicken
Thawing frozen chicken can be tricky, but there are three common methods for thawing frozen chicken safely.
1. Thaw Frozen Chicken In Cold Water
To speed up the defrosting process of your frozen chicken, place the frozen chicken in a bowl of cold or cool water.
See this article for more tips and reasons for defrosting frozen meat in a bowl of water.
Tips For Thawing Frozen Chicken In Water
- The chicken should be in a leak-proof package or plastic bag.
- Submerge the sealed chicken in cold tap water. Never use warm or hot water as this can cause harmful bacteria to start growing.
- Change the water every 30 minutes to speed up the thawing process.
- Gently poke the chicken with your fingers to see if the chicken has thawed out. If you feel ice crystals or stiffness, give the chicken more time to thaw out.
- To avoid bacterial growth, make sure that the thawed chicken is cooked as soon as it comes out of the water bowl.
Note: If you use the cold water method to defrost your frozen chicken, it should be cooked immediately after thawing.
Never refreeze raw chicken that has been defrosted in cold water. Once cooked, though, you can then freeze the cooked chicken if you want.
2. Thaw Frozen Chicken In The Fridge
The easiest way to defrost frozen chicken is by placing the frozen chicken overnight in the refrigerator.
However, thawing frozen chicken in the refrigerator is the slowest but safest way to thaw frozen chicken so plan ahead.
Tips For Thawing Frozen Chicken In The Fridge
- Place the frozen chicken in a container or on a plate so that any excess juices do not drip on other foods in the fridge.
- Place the frozen chicken in a refrigerator and ensure that the fridge temperature is set to 40°F or below.
- When thawing frozen chicken in the fridge, allow for about 12 hours for chicken breasts, thighs, and wings and up to 2 days for a whole chicken.
Note: You should always keep your frozen chicken in the fridge after thawing it out.
Here are the timelines of how long frozen chicken that has thawed out in the fridge can be safely stored:
| Frozen Chicken Type | Fridge Timeline After Thawing |
|---|---|
| Chicken Breasts, Thighs, and Wings | 1 to 2 days |
| Whole Chicken | 1 to 2 days |
So generally frozen chicken that has been thawed in the fridge can last in the fridge for an additional 1 to 2 days.
Chicken that has been thawed out in the fridge can be placed back in the freezer and refrozen if your plans change and you no longer want to cook the food.
However, you need to refreeze the chicken before the 2-day fridge timeline otherwise the chicken may spoil. Refreezing or cooking spoiled chicken will not make the meat edible.
3. Thaw Frozen Chicken in a Microwave
Microwaves are a quick way to defrost frozen chicken. However, there are a few things to keep in mind before you place frozen chicken in the microwave.
Tips For Thawing Frozen Chicken In The Microwave
- First, before thawing frozen chicken in the microwave, check the power level settings and use a lower power setting.
- Place the frozen chicken in a container or on a plate to capture the excess juices as the chicken thaws in the microwave.
- Thaw the frozen chicken for 2 to 3 minutes before flipping the chicken over and continuing until thawed.
Note: Frozen chicken should always be cooked immediately after defrosting in a microwave.
Now let’s cover some common questions and concerns when it comes to thawing frozen chicken.
What happens if chicken gets wet while defrosting?
Chicken can get wet while defrosting from the ice that has built up in the chicken itself or the chicken’s packaging. As long as the chicken’s internal temperature does not reach 40F to 140F for more than 2 hours then the chicken will be safe to cook and eat.
I’ve heard and seen people get nervous when they see chicken in water.
A big reason why you do not want chicken to get wet is that the water itself can spread bacteria in the chicken. So if the chicken water splashes over the kitchen counter then the whole counter needs to be sanitized.
Just because there’s water in the chicken does not mean the chicken has gone bad.
What happens if chicken is soaked in water?
Generally, you want to place chicken in the original packaging or a zip lock bag before soaking the chicken in water. Chicken can be brined with salt water in order to make the chicken tastier and juicier.
So soaking chicken in water is completely fine as long as the water is cold and the chicken is placed in the fridge.
Can you let your chicken defrost in water?
Yes chicken can be defrosted in water. Simply place the frozen chicken in a bag and place the chicken in a bowl of cool water. Replace the bowl of water every 30 minutes with cold water in order to defrost the chicken as fast as possible.
Just make sure to not use hot or warm water as this can cause the chicken’s exterior to thaw too quickly while the inside of the chicken will remain frozen.
Can I defrost chicken in water in the fridge?
Yes defrosting chicken in a bowl of water that is placed in the fridge is a safe way to defrost chicken. Water conducts heat so the chicken in water will defrost faster than just frozen chicken placed in the fridge.
How long can raw chicken sit in water in the fridge?
Raw chicken can sit in water in the fridge for up to 2 days before going bad. Any frozen chicken that has thawed out in the fridge must be used within 1-2 days after thawing.
If you do not want to use the chicken that has thawed out in the fridge, then the chicken can be refrozen so it can be used later.
Just make sure to refreeze the chicken before the chicken spoils. Refreezing or cooking spoiled chicken will not make the chicken edible.
How long can frozen chicken sit in water?
Frozen chicken can sit in water as long as it takes to completely thaw out. Generally, frozen chicken will thaw out after 2-3 hours in water. Whole chickens will take more time to thaw out depending on the size of the bird.
How long can I soak chicken in water?
Chicken can soak in water for up to 2 days as long as the chicken being soaked in water is placed in the fridge. The chicken’s internal temperature must not reach 40F to 140F for more than 2 hours otherwise the chicken will go bad.
Just because water is being soaked in water does not change how long the chicken will be safe in the fridge before going bad.
Can you let chicken sit in water in the fridge?
Yes chicken can sit or soak in water in the fridge for up to 2 days before the chicken will go bad.
The chicken can be refrozen if you no longer want to cook the chicken.
Can you eat chicken left in water overnight?
Yes chicken can be soaked in water overnight as long as the chicken is placed in the fridge. Thawed chicken can be safely stored in the fridge for up to 2 days before needing to be cooked or refrozen.
Water will not affect the shelf life of the chicken.
How can you tell if raw chicken is spoiled?
Signs that your chicken has gone bad are if your chicken is slimy, has a foul smell, or has changed to a yellow, green, or gray color. Toss any chicken that’s past its expiration date, has been in the fridge for more than 2 days raw or 4 day cooked, or has been in the danger zone of 40F to 140F for over 2 hours.
Never cook or refreeze chicken that has spoiled as this chicken will be inedible and can make you sick.
