Chicken FAQ: Can you boil semi-frozen chicken?

After reading my article about whether it is safe to eat chicken that was boiled from a frozen state, Bella sent me this question:

So you can’t boil semi-frozen chicken?

Hi, Bella, I see no reason why you can’t boil chicken that has thawed a little but is still somewhat frozen. The key, whether you’re boiling frozen, thawed, or something in between, is to get the internal temp of the meat to the safe temperature of 165° Fahrenheit.

Bring your water to a boil on the stovetop, let the chicken cook for whatever the recommended time is for the amount you’ve got, and then check it with a cooking thermometer. If the thickest part of the meat has an internal temp of 165°, you’re ready to go! If it’s less than 165°, keep cooking.

Remember, it can take more than twice as long to boil frozen chicken, so it should take somewhere in between that for a chicken that is partially thawed. For example, if it takes 10 minutes to boil a fresh chicken breast and 20 minutes to boil a frozen one, count on it taking about 15 minutes for something in between. The key is that internal temp.

Thanks for stopping by and let me know if you have any other questions!