There is one thing I really, really hate and that’s touching raw chicken. I won’t go into details, but I’ll just say that I try to do it as little as possible.
If you’re a regular reader of the blog you know that I always have really low prices listed for my boneless, skinless chicken breast. That’s because I pretty much only buy it when it is on sale. After I buy the chicken I immediately divide, individually wrap, and freeze the pieces for later use so that I can defrost one at a time as needed. When I first started doing this I absolutely hated the chore of wrapping and freezing the chicken… until I discovered this little trick!
This simple technique allows you to wrap each piece of chicken quickly and cleanly, with barely any chicken-skin contact. Woot! Prepare to have your eyes opened.
How to Divide and Freeze Chicken
Step 1: Get your supplies out. You’ll need fold-top sandwich bags and one gallon sized freezer bag (or two if you’re prepping a lot of chicken). Label the freezer bag with the contents and date so that if the chicken ever gets lost in the freezer you’ll at least know what it is when you find it.
Step 2: Get ready. I like to fold back the opening of the freezer bag so that I can just slide the wrapped chicken breasts in without touching the outside of the bag (I’m trying to spread as little raw chicken juice as possible). I also take out the number of fold-top sandwich bags needed (one per chicken breast), so that I won’t be reaching into the box of sandwich bags with sticky chicken hands.
Step 3: Protect your hand. Take one of the sandwich bags and invert it over your hand so that it is inside out and covering your hand. Open the chicken package and use the covered hand to grab one of the breasts…
Step 4: Now simply flip the sandwich bag right side out and around the chicken breast. Fold the flap in to enclose the chicken breast. Now it’s neatly wrapped in its own little package and you’ve had minimal contact with the chicken. Yay!
Step 5: Slide the wrapped chicken breast into the freezer bag and repeat the process with the rest of the chicken. The thin sandwich bag keeps frost from building up on the surface of the chicken and the thick freezer bag keeps air out and prevents freezer burn. Now you have a freezer full of chicken ready to be defrosted whenever you need it! And that whole process only took about five minutes.
Note: Even though this process is virtually mess-free, you’ll want to wash your hands well and disinfect your countertops afterward. Salmonella is not fun and you don’t want to chance small amounts of it contaminating other foods.
Got any cool tips for freezing your food? Share them in the comments below!
Nice, Beth. Great site! I use it more than you know.
Speaking of freezing, here’s a link to a convenient guide for freezing different types of foods and how long things last in the fridge/freezer.
Apparently chicken can last 12 months in the freezer according to that guide.
This is life changing.
I Just use disposable rubber gloves. If the chicken pieces are really thick and large, I also cut them in half lengthwise, and I get more meals out of it.
I had to comment because I do the same thing! Minimal touching :)
Ha! I cannot stand touching any raw meat unless it’s frozen. I usually can’t cut it either so I buy chicken strips/cubes. I currently stab it with a fork if I need to move a piece of chicken. I have tongs on the To Buy list.
You’re probably going to get really jealous when I say this (sorry in advance!) but… I go to the BEST grocery store up here in NY- Wegmans. They sell chicken breast for $1.99/lb ALL THE TIME… and even better, they sell it individually packaged! You buy a big sheet of 10 chicken breasts that are all vacuum sealed separately. I throw the whole thing in the freezer and then cut off a section whenever needed! So brilliant.
Anyway, sorry to make ya jealous :) If we move away and don’t have access to the awesomeness of Wegmans anymore, I will DEFINITELY use your method. I hate touching raw meat- blech!
Hahahah, not fair! :)
Yes- Wegmans IS the best…but this is a good tip for chicken thighs as well which they don’t sell vacuum sealed…yet!
BJ’S Warehouse sells individual vaccum pack chicken breast, thighs, legs also Breast are 1 per pack thighs are 4 per Legs 4or5 per pack,Wings 6 to 8 per pack most pack or 10 pounds or more but they are nicely you just freeze and cut off the amount you want.
Thats BJ’S in North Carolina
Don’t you run into the problem of them all freezing together in the bag and hard to get just one out. That’s what happens to me. :)
Not when they’re wrapped in the fold top plastic baggies, it keeps them all separate. :)
Thanks for the tip!!! I would cook more chicken if I did not have to touch it! I cook alot and chicken justs grosses me out bigtime. I have cleaned a few deers, but that slimy bird, ewwwwwwww! And I love chicken.
What a simple and great idea! It’s one of those “why didn’t I think of that?” moments :)
That’s exactly what happened to me. I thought, “of course!” :)
How have I never thought of doing this? It’s the same technique I use to do a poop scoop when I’m out with the dog….
What’s your method for defrosting without spreading yucky chix juices? I rarely freeze chix because I get so nervous about defrosting!!!
I take one of the wrapped breasts out of the freezer the day before and place it in a bowl in the refrigerator. Make sure it’s a big enough bowl to prevent drips as it thaws. :)
You don’t trim your meat before putting it away? I’ve always been in the habit of cutting off excess fat first. Can I do that more easily after it thaws instead? Hm.
That was my question too- what to do about trimming off fat
I usually do it after it’s thawed and ready to use, since I usually am cutting or slicing at that time anyway. :)
I usually do it after it’s thawed and ready to use, since I usually am cutting or slicing at that time anyway. :)
I’m a trimmer too, an I usually buy 10lbs of chicken at a time for my family and pack it for freezing. I always trim first and also try to cut and portion in the cuts I use most, cutlets, bit size strips, etc. That way I only have to touch the raw chicken and wash the chickeny cutting board once, not every time I take out a frozen pack to cook.
Hate.Dealing.With.Raw.Meat, but love to cook and eat it!
I work in healthcare, so I swipe a box of gloves (new and unopened) and keep them in a cabinet for all my meat handling needs.
Thank you Beth.
It beats by far the idea I had to buy a vacuum machine.
Now, I just need to remember to get those bags on my next shopping trip at the grocery … ;)
Cheers,
I LOVE your blog…it is awesome and I am having a blast going through your recipes! I love that you have so many vegetarian options :)
This post cracked me up…I agree, I hate chicken hands and this looks great…but, it reminds me of picking up dog poop…so I got a big laugh!
Keep up the awesome work…cant wait to see your cookbook.
Haha, OMG! I have two dogs and didn’t even think of that. Now that I have read your comment, I will never forget. :P
That is what I do. Buy the boxes of gloves and keep them around for handling meat. Makes my life so much easier ;)
Good thing you don’t work in finance.
I use this same trick at the grocery store when getting greens like cilantro from the case! It keeps your hand from getting wet.
As someone who has the same issue with touching raw chicken as you, I thank you greatly for this! I may start buying chicken in bulk if I don’t have to touch it. :)
Meeeeee toooooo!!!! :-) Thanks a million!!