Has anyone put a frozen chicken in the crockpot and it turn out done ? I forgot to get a chicken out to defrost and thought about putting it in the crock pot overnight to get it done.
Thanks !
I always cook chicken in the crock pot from frozen. I usually use chicken breasts, not a whole chicken, but as long as you have some liquid in there so that it doesn't dry out, it should work. I have found that if I try to cook chicken that doens't start out frozen, it gets overdone, even on low, so I started using frozen chicken breasts with my recipes and they come out perfect every time. Good luck! Hope it works out.
I probably wouldn't put the frozen chicken in the crockpot. Everything I've read says to cook thawed chicken, not frozen. Can you do it the following night?
often you will end up with over done meat around a bloody core. I would not do it.
This is info. I copy and pasted from a cooking site.
Whole Chicken
A 4-to-5-pound frozen whole chicken can be cooked in a Crock-Pot on low for 10 hours. When cooking a whole frozen chicken, one cup of warm liquid should be added before setting the poultry in the slow cooker. Warm liquid acts like a cushion against sudden temperature changes. For a larger frozen whole chicken, four additional hours at low or two hours at the high setting will be required.
Misconceptions
Some cookbooks suggest that frozen poultry thaws and is held at a dangerously low temperature when cooking in a Crock-Pot. Bacteria in raw chicken multiplies between 40 degrees and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. A cooking temperature of 160 degrees should be achieved to safely cook chicken. Slow cookers set to the "low" setting that cook at a minimum temperature of 160 degrees and 200 degrees on "high" will safely thaw and heat chicken for long-term cooking
We put frozen chicken breasts in the crockpot with other ingredients and they turn out great. If you are intending to cook only a chicken, I'd add enough broth to cover it and put it on high. You'll have cooked chicken in the morning.
Edit to add: When cooking meat, if the recipe calls for cooking in on low for an extended period of time, cook it on high for the first hour if you can - that will help boost the meat over the lukewarm "danger zone" temperature where bacteria like to grow. Then kick it down to low for the next however many hours needed to finish it.
I think my sister does it! But technically you're not supposed to. Can you defrost it a bit in your microwave? If not, I think you'll be fine if you cook it long enough.
If its a whole chicken,, what about the innards inside the body? You dont want to cook it with that inside do you? If its chicken parts, then thaw them in the microwave on defrost setting. Then cook.
I always do with chicken pieces and diced chicken. Never tried with a whole chicken though.
I've used frozen chicken breasts regularly. Never tried it with a whole chicken, though. lol
You can put anything in while still frozen, the cover might not fit as well though. Use a piece of aluminin foil to cover the open space, it keeps the heat in better. Plan to cook it 2-3 hours longer than you normally would. If the chicken isn't cleaned out or has the innards still inside put it in a big bowl of hot water to thaw it a little so you can get the innards out and make sure all the lung tissue is cleaned out. The lungs can make the bird bitter. As long as you are cooking it right away you can thaw in hot water.
Yes, it can and pot roasts too...it does take 10 to 12 hours...so make sure you have plenty of time.
Done it several times, you wouldn't know the difference.
My husband says "Easily. If you cook it long enough." He's the crock pot master! He says he puts liquid in with his.
I do it all the time. It turns out fine.
if you are on Facebook - check out Crock Pot Girls.. AWESOME Receipes (sp?)
No problems at all. I used to thaw it out and decided to try it frozen. No difference at all :)
C.
My experience in putting frozen meat in the crock pot - is it gets dry INSIDE...
The ONLY time that it did NOT was when I remembered to stab holes in it. And since it was frozen - it was hard...
If it's for dinner tomorrow night? Leave it in the fridge to defrost and put it in on low when you put it in the crock pot in the AM.
GOOD LUCK!!!
It can be done. Be sure to start it off on low heat so that the stoneware doesn't heat too fast and crack against the cold chicken. A cup of water also provides a temperature buffer.
