How to Microwave Defrost a Whole Chicken

Defrost a chicken in the microwave if you are pressed for time.

Whole chickens are a meal option for family dinners, barbecue parties or holiday celebrations. Before you can cook the frozen chicken, you need to ensure that you defrost it completely. Defrosting the whole chicken in the microwave will speed up the process if you need to use the chicken immediately. After you completely defrost the chicken, you can then prepare it for cooking.

Things You'll Need

• Microwave-safe plate
• Plastic wrap

Instructions

1. Remove the chicken from its original packaging.

2. Place the chicken on a microwave-safe plate.

3. Cover the chicken with plastic wrap loosely.

4. Set the microwave defrost setting on medium-low. If your microwave has a defrost setting, some models will allow you to enter the weight and they will instruct you to turn the meat over in intervals.

5. Defrost the chicken, and then check the inside cavity for ice crystals. If you feel or see ice crystals, continue to defrost the chicken in two-minute segments or on your microwave's defrost setting until fully defrosted.

Tips & Warnings

• Never place a chicken defrosted in the microwave back into the freezer. The microwave will partially cook the chicken, which will allow bacteria to grow.

• Do not thaw chicken at room temperature.

References

• Soup Hoopla: Defrosting Chicken Safely
• United States Department of Agriculture: Focus on: Chicken
• Foster Farms: Thawing Chicken