Defrosting a chicken

[SizemoreJones]

Can I defrost a whole chicken by leaving it in the kitchen overnight? I've defrosted other meat this way but for some reason I googled a whole chicken and the internet says no!

What does Mumsnet say?!?

House is around 18*C.

When do you need to cook it?

I would leave it in the fridge or microwave ( so the cat doesn't take a fancy)

Chicken should always be defrosted in the fridge. Never at room temp. Dont risk it.

Yes over night in the bottom of the fridge is the safest way. Put a tray underneath to catch any juices.

I’d leave it overnight if the kitchen is cold. Otherwise it will defrost in the fridge fine too.

Sorry, I read you asked in the kitchen. No it's not safe, defrost in the fridge.

I need to cook it tomorrow 2pm ish. I don't think it will defrost in the fridge in time.

Yes of course! I leave on a dish in the microwave as have cats, or if not in a dish beside the sink. In the morning it’s fully defrosted and if not cooking it until later, then pop it in the fridge until you are ready to use it.

@Chickdaft ditto!

agreed … also if not fully defrosted a couple of hours before you want to cook it, run a basin of cold water and leave to thaw in that. Source: used to do this all the time working in a shop where the owner would forget to thaw the poultry for the rotisserie,

It wont, and as your home is quite cool ( compared to some standards ) it will be fine left out over night, theres no way with the cavity warm to danger levels and cooking correctly will kill everything

I always defrost joints over night, kitchen unless the heating is on full throttle, and garage in the summer - not poisoned anyone yet

We are all alive. Hurray!

I've defrosted chickens for the last 20 years by leaving them in the sink overnight. Nobody has ever got sick. Roasting will kill off any bacteria.

This is what I always do, my kitchen is cold overnight with no heating on.

Sit on it like an egg to defrost it :)

We had visitors eating with us, which made me cautious but all was well. It would have taken days for it to defrost in the fridge - which felt a worse option.

I have never defrosted any meat in the fridge it takes too long. Always defrost over night on the kitchen counter then in the morning place in fridge until needed.

The chicken breasts I put in the fridge to defrost still hadn't done so 24 hours later so I would defrost on the worktop like I do with everything else.

I cover with tin foil if leaving out to defrost - it slows down the process and keeps the outside chilled whilst the middle is still defrosting rather than the outside potentially getting warm whilst the middle is still frozen.

I remember as a child, my parents would buy a frozen turkey and defrost it in the bath for a few days before Christmas. (Back then, no one bathed or showered every day). They would then hold it over the kitchen sink and pour a couple of kettles of boiling water down the cavity before cooking it. I'm amazed we all survived, but we did.