‹ Back to questions
Question Can you refreeze thawed chicken?

Can you refreeze thawed chicken?

TL;DR

Yes, if it was thawed safely. Chicken thawed in the refrigerator can usually be refrozen, but quality may drop.

ADVERTISEMENT Ad space — article

Yes, you can refreeze thawed chicken in some situations. The key detail is how it was thawed and how long it has been sitting around.

If the chicken thawed in the refrigerator and stayed cold, refreezing is usually fine. The texture may lose a little moisture, but it can still be safe and usable.

If it sat on the counter or spent too long in the temperature danger zone, do not refreeze it. That is a food safety problem, not just a quality issue.

When in doubt, cook it first and then freeze the cooked chicken instead.

Refreezing chicken is mostly about safe thawing. Refrigerator thawing gives you the most flexibility.

Related questions

ADVERTISEMENT Ad space — article