Boring question regarding freezing and use by dates

[Toomuchlemonade]

Morning all,

Boring question that I'm hoping someone can answer please. I've just purchased a spatchcocked chicken that's out of date today. I planned to freeze and cook it Weds. I've realised that because it needs to be defrosted first, it could be risky? I need to cook it today, don't I?

Why would it be risky if you frozen and then defrosted it?

It needs to either be cooked or frozen by it's use by date.

Because it's out of date today, I'm it sure if it matters, which is why I'm asking. Im sure I've seen on packaging that food should be frozen 24hrs before the use by date.

I look at freezing as stop the clock and for this defrost and cook on the same day should be fine.

Tbh I would risk not freezing if the use by date is only 2 days out and I trust the supplier will have managed the instore refridgeration. (Do the store staff leave stacks of cold goods on in isles during busy periods etc) Chicken will smell its going bad.

It’s fine to freeze on its use by date. With chicken especially, if it’s gone off, you will know when you open it up to cook it, so no risk of eating it when you shouldn’t.

The challenge here though is if you freeze it today, it’s barely frozen before you need to take it out to thaw again. I would freeze today but then take out by tomorrow afternoon at the latest to thaw.

I would freeze it now ASAP and then take it out the freezer tomorrow night, leave to defrost on counter top overnight then Wednesday morning put in fridge until using. I have done this loads of times.