Do you need to defrost chicken? There are several methods that work well for defrosting chicken, depending on the tools you have at hand and how much time you have. Read on to learn how to defrost chicken in a way that works for you.

Freezing is a great way to preserve foods that you don't have time to cook right away. Chicken should usually be prepared 24 to 48 hours after you bring it home from the store, and frozen if you won't be able to cook it within that time period. Some recipes enable you to cook chicken directly from a frozen state, but in most cases, you'll need to thaw the chicken before you use it.

If you've been able to plan ahead, thawing chicken in the refrigerator is the easiest way to defrost chicken, and generally produces good results. Place the chicken in a roasting pan or pie plate that is large enough to catch any drips as the chicken thaws. Allow one day for every five pounds of frozen chicken.

The microwave can thaw chicken quickly. If your microwave has a preset defrost function, you can use that, but if not, follow these instructions:

1. Set your microwave on 30% power.
2. If the chicken has been frozen in foil, remove the foil and place it in a resealable bag. If it as been frozen in plastic, you can leave it wrapped.
3. Place the chicken in a microwave save pie plate to catch the drips as it thaws.
4. Microwave for 3 minutes, then check. If the chicken needs more time, flip it over, and repeat the process. Continue microwaving, checking, and flipping until the chicken is defrosted.

1. Place the chicken in a resealable bag.
2. Put the chicken in a large bowl, and completely cover with cold water.
3. Replace the water with fresh cold water every 30 minutes.http://www.fosterfarms.com/cooking/chicken/thawing_chicken.asp