Just cooked a beautiful roast chicken but have loads of meat leftover? If you're not able to use it in leftovers for the next few days, did you know you can freeze the cooked meat?
Freezing leftovers is such a great way to both minimise food waste and have a meal saved for later. But there are some rules you should follow for freezing leftover cooked chicken, to make sure you're keeping it hygienic and to get the best out of the meat.
Follow our tips on freezing cooked chicken to find out…
What is the best way to freeze cooked chicken?
The best way to freeze cooked chicken leftovers is to wait until it has cooled to room temperature and then freeze it as soon as possible.
Depending on how you plan on serving them, you can freeze both whole joints of cooked chicken (such as whole breasts or legs), or cut pieces of cooked chicken (which can be quicker to defrost and more readily useable).
To prepare larger joints of chicken for freezing, wrap pieces tightly in clingfilm or baking parchment, eliminating as much air as possible, then bag up and freeze.
To freeze chunks or slices of cooked chicken, pack into an airtight container all the way up to the top or use freezer bags (use smaller containers if you want to freeze individual servings), trying to eliminate as much air as possible.
Unless you’re planning to use it within the week, we don’t recommend open-freezing cooked chicken (where you arrange it on a tray spaced apart, freeze until solid and then bag up in order to be able to take out exactly what you need) – with air circulating around it, it will suffer freezer burn quickly.
Is it healthy/safe to freeze cooked chicken?
It is perfectly safe and healthy to freeze cooked chicken, providing you’ve followed some rules beforehand.
Make sure you don’t leave cooked chicken out to cool at room temperature for more than two hours (more than this will cause bacteria to start multiplying) – ideally chill/freeze it as soon as it gets to room temperature.
When possible, freeze cooked chicken soon after cooking, rather than after a few days of being chilled in the fridge to minimise bacterial growth too.
Can you freeze cooked chicken and eat it cold?
Yes, providing you’ve followed the above rules for chilling and freezing soon after cooking, you can eat defrosted cooked chicken cold - you don’t have to reheat it. Make sure to defrost it in the fridge overnight and eat it within a day of defrosting.
Can you freeze cooked chicken and reheat?
You can also reheat frozen cooked chicken if you are planning on eating it immediately. Defrost in the fridge and reheat to serve. Once you’ve reheated it, you should consume it completely and not store/chill/freeze/reheat the leftovers. It’s best to only defrost and reheat what you are able to eat.
How can I use frozen leftover cooked chicken?
Once you’ve defrosted it, leftover cooked chicken is extremely versatile for lunches and supper dishes. Make a sandwich filling with mayo, stir into pasta bakes or use it to pack some protein into your fajitas. We’ve got a host of recipes using cooked chicken.
