Chicken is one of the most commonly consumed poultry and can be cooked in different forms.
For this reason, people purchase chicken in bulk and freeze it for later use. However, many people are concerned about the browning of frozen chicken.
The color changes in the frozen chicken are actually very common, but in most cases, the food remains safe to consume. So, let’s see what browning in the chicken means and what can be done about it!
Browning Frozen Chicken – What Does It Mean?
The color changes can incur in frozen chicken but it remains safe for consumption. The bright color of the chicken turns pale or dark brown, depending on the storage timeline and chicken variety.
In most cases, it’s caused by a lack of oxygen, longer storage, and freezer burns.
In particular, freezing the chicken doesn’t cause color changes. However, this storage method can make the bones and meat near the bones darker.
The darkening happens when the pigments start seeping through chicken porous bones into the surrounding masses whenever the chicken is frozen and thawed.
Why Did My Chicken Turned Brown In Freezer?
The Signs Of Spoiled Chicken
In most cases, browning doesn’t mean that chicken has been spoiled and is the result of longer storage and lack of oxygen exposure. So, if you tend to store chicken frequently, we are sharing the signs of spoiled frozen chicken, such as;
- Color Changes
The frozen chicken has a light pink color when it’s frozen. However, when the chicken starts to expire, it becomes gray (not brown). In addition, there is fat on the chicken, which has a white color.
On the other hand, when the chicken starts to expire, both fat and meat will start graying.
Moreover, there will be sprout yellow patches on the frozen chicken when it’s expired. So, if there are gray undertones and yellow patches on the frozen chicken, you must discard it right away.
- Smell
The smell is one of the most significant signs of bad chicken. It’s not always pleasant to sniff the chicken but you’ve to look for the pungent smell.
If you froze the raw chicken and it has gone bad, it will release a pungent smell – it will smell like rotten eggs.
- Texture
If you touch the chicken and it has a slimy film all over it, it’s a clear indication that the chicken has gone bad.
In most cases, thawing the chicken will result in moisture on the chicken’s surface but it won’t be slimy. So, touch the chicken and if it’s slimy, the chicken should be tossed.
- Expiration Date
Last but not least, you have to check the expiration date on the chicken package. If the expiration date has passed, you should throw away the chicken even if it doesn’t show other signs of spoilage because it can lead to an upset stomach.
Storing The Frozen Chicken
Freeing the chicken is recommended when you have to store the raw chicken for a few weeks or months.
However, many people don’t follow the correct measures, which results in gray and yellow patches on the chicken. The frozen chicken can be stored in the freezer for over one year.
On the other hand, the chopped chicken should be saved for nine months. Also, if you have to freeze cooked chicken, the lifespan will be two to six months.
So, make sure you consider the following points while storing the frozen chicken;
- Use Airtight Packaging
You must use airtight bags or containers to freeze and store the chicken because it prevents freezer burns.
It’s recommended that you take out chicken from the current packaging (the store packaging) and put it in the freezer bags and seal them tightly before you put it in the freezer.
In case you want to separate the chicken pieces, we recommend that you wrap the chicken pieces with parchment paper sheets before putting them in the freezer bag.
According to USDA, rewrapping is important to ensure safe freezing because the store’s plastic packaging can lead to freezer burn.
Using the airtight container will keep the chicken safe for a month or two. However, if you have to store the chicken for a few months, you should wrap it in tinfoil or freezer paper.
Also, if you use the airtight container, make sure you label the container to remember how long you’ve frozen the chicken.
The store-bought packaging can be wrapped with aluminum foil to ensure safe long-term storage. Lastly, if the chicken package is vacuum-sealed and you haven’t opened it, you can simply put it in the freezer without rewrapping.
- Ensure Proper Hygiene
If you have to take out chicken from the store’s packaging and rewrap it in an airtight container or freezer bag, make sure you ensure proper hygiene.
In particular, you must wash your hands before handling the chicken and make sure you store the chicken in the deepest part of your freezer.
Washing the hands will ensure that any type of bacteria doesn’t come in contact with the chicken. That’s because bacteria can seep into the chicken, which results in spoilage.
- Temperature
To ensure safe storage of the chicken, make sure the temperature is 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. This is because higher temperatures won’t lead to proper freezing, which does more damage than good.
For this reason, you’ve to set and maintain the said temperature in the freezer.
Thawing The Frozen Chicken
Following the correct freezing protocols will help keep the chicken safe to eat. However, you’ve to be equally careful while thawing the chicken to prevent spoilage. So, consider the following tips for thawing;
- Putting the frozen chicken in the refrigerator overnight is the safest defrosting/thawing method. For this purpose, you have to put the chicken container in the bowl or a rimmed container to catch the drips and the thawing will take around 24 hours
- If you have limited time, put the chicken container or bag in the bowl that’s filled with cold water and keep replacing the water after thirty minutes. It will take around four to five to thaw the chicken
On a concluding note, brown chicken isn’t an issue but you must look out for grey and yellow patches in the chicken!