Did you make too much chicken for dinner, and now you are wondering how to store it? If the leftovers are less in quality, it is easy to preserve them. You can consume the leftover food in a day or two. The storage process does not require any special techniques. All you have to do is put the leftovers in a container and store them in your refrigerator. But the problem arises when you have chicken in large quantities, and you have to preserve them for more than four days. We all know that food does not stay fresh after four days in the refrigerator. If you have to store your food for more than four days, make sure you get a freezer. You can also get a chest freezer for sale from any appliances shop. Some people face confusion when they are storing meals for a week or more. That is why we have mentioned the safest ways to preserve your cooked chicken for up to one week.
Table of Contents
Cut it Up
This method is beneficial when you have chicken as a whole. In this method, you take a whole chicken and cut it up. The cut it up process involves dividing chicken into small pieces. You can divide the chicken before or after cooking. If you divide it before cooking, it will give you flat chicken pieces. The flat chicken pieces make cooking easy and quick for you. Make sure you remove the backbone of the chicken. Now, separate each part of the chicken. Take an airtight container. You can use a solid plastic box or even a Ziploc bag. Place the chicken in the container. Now, put the container in the freezer. Your chicken will stay fresh for almost 3-months.
Store it Wet
Storing the chicken wet is the best storage method if you want to keep the chicken juicy. So many people complain that their leftover chicken turns dry after defrosting. That is why you should store the chicken in gravy or any other liquid. Some people think this method is only applicable when you have to use the chicken in wet recipes. That is incorrect. You can use this method even if you need chicken for your dry recipe like salads. Firstly, take any gravy. You can also use chicken broth as the liquid. Make sure the flavor of the dressing is similar to the meal you will make after defrosting. Now pour the liquid into a plastic Ziploc bag. Add the chicken pieces to the bag. Now freeze it for up to 3 months.
Double-Coat Method
This ultimate method is the safest way to store chicken. If you use this method, the chances of your food spoiling are the lowest. Firstly, cool off the chicken. Next, bring the chicken to room temperature. Now, place the chicken on aluminum foil. The aluminum foil will ensure the safety of your food. Cover the food in the foil. Take an airtight container, and place the foil-covered chicken pieces in the box. Freeze it.
How to Inspect Chicken?
- Check the color of the chicken. If the color turns greyish or green, throw it away.
- Smell the chicken. If you smell something ammonia-like, your chicken might be spoiling.