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Frozen chicken problem.

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  • 08-07-2012 7:27pm
    #1
    DoctorEdgeWild
    Registered Users Posts: 5,993 ✭✭✭


    Hello folks,

    I have a bit of a problem. I currently have 25 chicken fillets in my freezer, well frozen.

    Problem being that they were not seperated into freezer bags as usual before they were put in so are now pretty much frozen into a large block.

    What should I do to seperate them safely, without thawing and refreezing them.

    Advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks,

    Darren.


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    #2
    Mr Simpson
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,332 ✭✭✭Mr Simpson


    DoctorEdgeWild wrote: »
    Hello folks,

    I have a bit of a problem. I currently have 25 chicken fillets in my freezer, well frozen.

    Problem being that they were not seperated into freezer bags as usual before they were put in so are now pretty much frozen into a large block.

    What should I do to seperate them safely, without thawing and refreezing them.

    Advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks,

    Darren.

    I'd say your only option is to try and pull them apart while still frozen and wrap them up to put back in the freezer.


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    #3
    huskerdu
    Registered Users Posts: 1,931 ✭✭✭huskerdu


    It is very very difficult to separate frozen chicken fillets. If the lump is long and
    flat than it is much easier than if it is a round lump.

    My suggestion is to wrap it all in a clean towel and bang it repeatedly on a very hard surface (a tiled patio is good) and hope that it breaks into smaller chunks.

    Dont use a good sharp knife to try to separate them - its a very good way to destroy a knife.


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    #4
    chainsawman
    Registered Users Posts: 457 ✭✭chainsawman


    Use a hammer and a chisel to break them up... Thawing them and seperate and put back in the freezer is a health hazard.


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    #5
    olaola
    Registered Users Posts: 4,139 ✭✭✭olaola


    Have a BBQ with 24 friends...

    Or you could defrost them, cook them and then freeze them again.


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    #6
    the beer revolu
    Registered Users Posts: 17,044 ✭✭✭✭the beer revolu


    You will not separate them while frozen.
    I'd put them into a sink full of cold water.
    As they defrost slightly you should be able to peel them away from each other.
    Then as you free each one, dry it, wrap it and refreeze.

    There is no danger in defrosting them slightly (or even fully if done properly) and refreezing them, despite what the masses might howl!


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    #7
    LeinsterDub
    Registered Users Posts: 8,229 ✭✭✭LeinsterDub


    Don't try to separate them . They will cut pretty handy with a decent knife just cut them up in to usable sizes


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    #8
    harr
    Registered Users Posts: 4,485 ✭✭✭harr


    the beer revolu wrote: »
    You will not separate them while frozen.
    I'd put them into a sink full of cold water.
    As they defrost slightly you should be able to peel them away from each other.
    Then as you free each one, dry it, wrap it and refreeze.

    There is no danger in defrosting them slightly (or even fully if done properly) and refreezing them, despite what the masses might howl!
    This,just defrost enough to pull apart and refreeze and they will be perfect.Some info here on refreezing http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FactSheets/Focus_On_Freezing/index.asp


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    #9
    rubadub
    Registered Users Posts: 32,382 ✭✭✭✭rubadub


    the beer revolu wrote: »
    There is no danger in defrosting them slightly (or even fully if done properly) and refreezing them, despite what the masses might howl!
    +1,
    Repeat thaw freezing can change the texture of the meat, as the water expands and contracts causing physical damage to cells, so just defrost a little. Like home slow frozen mushrooms will turn to mush when defrosted. There are no magical freezer bacteria which some think exist.
    chainsawman wrote: »
    Use a hammer and a chisel to break them up.
    I would advise a large flat head screwdriver of chisel, cleaned of course. I would also wear thick gloves incase they slip. A knife can just bend.

    If you only split them into say 5 blocks of 5 fillets each, then you could dump a frozen block into a pot of hot curry sauce and allow it to defrost them, fish them out and chop up to the desired size of chunks and pop them back in.


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    #10
    CJhaughey
    Registered Users Posts: 14,907 ✭✭✭✭CJhaughey


    I'd get a butcher to saw them up with a bandsaw into usable size blocks.


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    #11
    DoctorEdgeWild
    Registered Users Posts: 5,993 ✭✭✭DoctorEdgeWild


    I went for the classic hammer and chisel and freezer bagged up the pieces. Not exactly shaped like fillets anymore but perfectly edible and avoided the risk of thawing them too much.

    Thanks very much all for your suggestions.


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    #12
    chainsawman
    Registered Users Posts: 457 ✭✭chainsawman


    DoctorEdgeWild wrote: »
    I went for the classic hammer and chisel and freezer bagged up the pieces. Not exactly shaped like fillets anymore but perfectly edible and avoided the risk of thawing them too much.

    Thanks very much all for your suggestions.

    No sweat brother.:cool:.. Glad you have that sorted out...


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    #13
    the beer revolu
    Registered Users Posts: 17,044 ✭✭✭✭the beer revolu


    DoctorEdgeWild wrote: »
    I went for the classic hammer and chisel and freezer bagged up the pieces. Not exactly shaped like fillets anymore but perfectly edible and avoided the risk of thawing them too much.

    Thanks very much all for your suggestions.
    What risk?


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    #14
    jeepers101
    Registered Users Posts: 707 ✭✭✭jeepers101


    the beer revolu wrote: »
    What risk?

    The risk of reducing the quality of the meat maybe?


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    #15
    Mr Magnolia
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,435 Mod ✭✭✭✭Mr Magnolia


    the beer revolu wrote: »
    What risk?

    The risk associated with making baby jesus cry.


    It's been highlighted previously that food safety associated with topics such as this is not up for discussion here.

    Chicken separated, thanks given, thread closed. Drop me a PM if anyone would like to discuss further. Thanks.


This discussion has been closed.
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