If the chicken is not in a sealed package, place the chicken into a sturdy airtight zipper-top bag.
Place the sealed bag of chicken in a bowl of cold water. Make sure the chicken is submerged. You can place a heavy plate or bowl on top of the chicken to keep it under the water. Also, you might put a can of beans or tomatoes on the plate or bowl to weigh it down.
Let the chicken sit in the cold water for 1 to 2 hours, until defrosted. Larger amounts and bigger cuts may take a few hours. If you are thawing multiple pieces in a bag, once the pieces have thawed enough to be separated, open the bag, pull the pieces apart, then reseal the bag and return it to the water. This will speed up the defrosting.
Keep checking until the meat is thawed. Once the meat is thawed using this method, you should cook it right away.
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Notes
How to Defrost Chicken in the FridgeThis is the most hands-off way to defrost chicken, but it takes longer. Even a pound of ground chicken or a couple of pounds of boneless chicken breasts will probably take up to a day to fully thaw in the fridge. A bunch of bone-in pieces or a 5-pound bird might take 2 days. Make sure to keep the chicken in a bowl or pan to catch any drips as it thaws.How to Defrost Chicken in the MicrowaveSome newer microwaves have settings that allow you to defrost or thaw chicken by simply pressing a button. Read your instruction manual to see if your microwave has this kind of capacity. Otherwise, thawing your chicken in the microwave will require some attention on your part. Set the microwave to defrost, and check every few minutes to see when it is defrosted properly. Move the chicken around in the microwave, especially if you don’t have a rotating tray. Chicken and all meat thawed in the microwave should be cooked right away.