Frozen chicken in slow cooker

[zeroyogurts]

I took a pack of frozen diced chicken out of the freezer about 10am. It got to 4pm and I was fed up of waiting for it to defrost and chucked it in the slow cooker.
It was 50% defrosted. Had it on high since 4pm and will take it out about 10pm.
Didn’t realise you shouldn’t cook frozen chicken in the slow cooker.
Will it be ok?

Just to clarify, it’s raw frozen diced chicken. It’s currently bubbling away in the slow cooker.

Could you not have just defrosted it in the microwave and cooked it on the hob?

Personally I would take a bit out and cut it in half, if it seems cooked it's probably fine. Not official advice or based on any science, just that I think the issue a lot of the time with cooking from frozen is that it doesn't cook in the middle.

I had a special slow cooker spice mix I wanted to use.

You can cook frozen chicken in a slow cooker or on a lower heat in the oven. It’s fine. I do it all the time. As long as it’s piping hot and of a cooked texture with no blood you’ll be fine.

No it wont be okay I'm afraid. The issue isn't whether its fully cooked or not it's that the time between it being thawed and cooking it is under the optimum conditions for bacteria to grow and sadly some of these bacteria especially on chicken can cause the types of food poisoning that are fatal. I would never ever risk it but I suppose it's up to you

I know I shouldn't do it, but I do do it.

Cooking in an oven is different as it gets hotter much quicker all the way around and is never in the 'perfect' condition for those bacteria to grow, as soon as it has finished thawing it starts to cook.

Mixed opinions. I googled and it says if it’s piping hot at the end of cooking then you’re at less risk!

Also it wasn’t straight from the freezer. It had been defrosting on the side for around 5 hours.

Sounds fine to me. Long cook, bubbling. What are you serving it with?
I'd do mash or large microwave potatoes, with salad and/or veg.

It’s chicken casserole type thing, so lots of veg in it. Perhaps make some rice!

I have a pressure cooker and it has recipes for frozen chicken. If the temperature is maintained above a certain temp long enough it kills bacteria. That’s what hospitals do ( a lot of them have pre cooked frozen foods that are cooked in a oven ).
But yes do google for your own piece of mind. The bug that you could get from undercooked chicken is helibactor pylori (sorry, probably spelt it wrong).

Was it totally thawed though after being on the side? I suppose that makes it more unlikely bacteria will grow on the surface but you still never know. What I said wasn't an opinion they are facts. I have food hygeine and catering certificates from when I ran my own food business. Even in not-worst-case scenarios some bacteria can cause serious illnesses. You can never know which bacteria have and haven't grown either. There are plenty of people who do it all the time and are totally fine but imo after learning about it, it's not worth the risk as it can be so dangerous. As I said before it's up to you, but a slow cooker doesnt get hot enough for it to ever be piping hot.

Sorry
I meant to say pre prepared frozen foods not pre cooked

It’s not about how hot the slow cooker eventually gets. It’s about how long it takes to get to a safe temperature. I wouldn’t do this!!

It was 50% defrosted. So the chunks were all separate and the outside of them soft, but the inside still frozen. I’m just gonna blast it on high for a bit longer and cross my fingers!

And it’s no kids/elderly eating it. Just me and DH so I’ve only got us 2 to poison!

I've cooked chicken from frozen for years. Haven't died or been ill yet!

Chicken breasts that is. Not a full chicken lol

@MerryGrinchmas1 in a slow cooker or oven?!

Feeling more hopeful!!!

I really really wouldn’t. The instruction manual for my slow cooker even says specifically not to do this. And you may be fine. But chicken cooked incorrectly could really poison you. And no. I don’t just mean upset your stomach.

@MerryGrinchmas1 anecdotal evidence is about as useful as saying I've never experienced racism so it isn't a thing

OP, it sounds like you have your mind made up so why ask? You've been advised by people who have been trained in this area not to. I do hope you dont get seriously ill or worse.

@MerryGrinchmas1 anecdotal evidence is about as useful as saying I've never experienced racism so it isn't a thing

Well said MummytoCSJH. I have had campylobacter from undercooked chicken, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.