Q&A for How to Defrost Cooked Chicken

Cooked chicken should be left out for no longer than 6 hours. Any more and you're taking the risk of contamination. If it’s frozen, leaving it out until it’s defrosted is fine, though I’d rather do it via microwave.

Place the chicken in a dish or baking pan stick it in the fridge for 24 hours to defrost. For a quicker option, place the frozen chicken in a watertight bag and submerge it in a pot of cool water for about 2-3 hours, or until its fully thawed. Then, warm it up in an oven set to 350°F (175°C) for about 30 minutes, or until it's fully reheated.

Yes! Start by removing all of the wrapping or plastic from the chicken and place it on a microwave-safe plate. Set your microwave to low heat and cook the chicken for 6-8 minutes per 1 pound (16 oz). Check that the chicken is fully defrosted by touching it with your finger every few minutes.

Yes, you can safely defrost chicken by cooking it. Increase your cooking time by 50% in order to account for the chicken being frozen to begin with. However, cooking a frozen chicken will affect the quality and texture of it.