Fresh vs. Frozen Chicken: What Chefs Need to Know
Home chefs are always trying different things, and often must decide what ingredients to use. Among these choices is whether to use fresh or frozen chicken when preparing a chicken dish. Both have advantages and disadvantages and bring different results to your dish. Let’s break down these key differences so that you can choose between fresh or frozen chicken for your next meal.
Storage and Shelf Life of Chicken
The most obvious difference between fresh and frozen chicken is how it can be handled. Fresh chicken is stored in the fridge and should be used within a few days, usually no more than a week. Chicken purchased from supermarkets as fresh is often stored too long and consumers should be careful not to buy product that has sat too long in the cooler taking days off the chef’s ability to store at home. This short shelf life means you need to plan your meals carefully to avoid waste.
Frozen chicken, on the other hand, is kept in the freezer which can be stored for several months—sometimes even up to a year if stored properly. This makes it a great option if you like to buy in bulk or like to have chicken ready for whenever you need it. The biggest downside is that the chicken will need thawing, which can take time.
Texture and Flavor: Fresh vs Frozen Chicken
Texture and flavor are where you will experience the biggest difference between fresh and frozen chicken. Fresh chicken will have a firmer yet juicier texture, which is why it’s often preferred for dishes where the chef wants to highlight their cooking skills. Fresh chicken’s natural consistency is valued for grilling. The flavor of fresh chicken is often more pronounced and cleaner, giving your dish a deeper taste.
Frozen chicken can sometimes be a bit softer or even mushier after thawing. This happens because ice crystals form in the meat when it’s frozen, which can break down the muscle fibers after defrosting. And if frozen chicken isn’t properly stored, it can lose some of its natural flavor over time and may even pick up other odors and tastes from the freezer.
Nutritional Value
Nutritional differences between frozen and fresh chicken are also worth considering. Freezing helps keep most of the chicken’s nutrients. However, there may be a slight loss in some vitamins, like B vitamins, in frozen chicken after you defrost as some of its moisture is lost in the process. Fresh chicken is able to keep all of its nutrients as long as it is used before it starts to spoil.
Convenience and Cost
In terms of convenience, frozen chicken wins hands down. It can be stored for a long time, allowing you to use it as needed, and sometimes more affordable because buying in bulk often saves money. The downside is that it needs to be thawed before cooking, which can be a bit of a hassle if you’re in a hurry.
Fresh chicken is ready to go right out of the fridge, making it a great option for quick meals. However, it’s usually more expensive than frozen chicken because of its shorter shelf life and the costs associated with keeping it fresh. If chefs are not mindful, a fresh piece of chicken can spoil quickly resulting in total and immediate loss. But despite the higher price, many chefs find that the superior texture and flavor of fresh chicken make it worth the potential risk of loss.
Whether you choose fresh or frozen chicken really depends on your needs and preferences in the kitchen along with your budget. Chefs desiring chicken that is convenient and can be stored for some time, frozen chicken is a great option. But if you’re after the best possible flavor and texture, to impress your guests, fresh chicken that’s never been frozen is the ideal way to go.
Jidori® Chicken is sold as both fresh and frozen for your convenience. Unlike chicken sold at your local supermarket or other poultry companies online, Jidori® Chicken is not held in our freezer waiting for customers to order. We process our chicken daily and ship out immediately, guaranteeing the freshest chicken available online and in stores. See where you can buy Jidori® Chicken locally or online.