two or three days of purchase.
Should I freeze chickens?
Frank doesn't recommend freezing poultry. However, if
a bird must be held beyond three days, freezing will keep
it wholesome.
How do I freeze poultry?
When freezing is necessary, seal chicken or other
poultry in an airtight container, heavy plastic bag,
plastic wrap, foil or freezer paper.
Try to have the wrapping tight against the chicken
because any place where it isn't, small ice crystals will
form. That means moisture has been drawn from the meat, and
where that's happened, the meat will be tough and breading
won't stick.
Frozen uncooked chicken can be stored up to six
months; frozen cooked chicken should be used within three
months. (Personally I try to avoid freezing chicken since I
know that freezing makes the chicken less tender and less
juicy. Still, in spite of good intentions, I sometimes end
up doing it. I've learned to make it a point to have a wax
marking pencil and freezer tape handy, so I can label the
package with the date and contents. I wonder if you've
found, as I have, that it's unbelievably easy to lose track
of how long things have been in there.)
Do not stuff poultry before freezing, and freeze
cooked birds and stuffing separately.
Can frozen chicken be thawed and frozen again?
Each time you freeze chicken, you sacrifice quality.
If carefully handled, however, it is safe to defrost
uncooked chicken and to freeze it again after cooking. If