How To Thaw Chicken Wings (3 Safe & Quick Methods)

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  • What’s the Best Way to Defrost Frozen Chicken Wings?
  • How Not to Thaw Chicken
  • Can You Cook Frozen Chicken?
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featured imageHow To Thaw Chicken Wings (3 Safe & Quick Methods) Gabriel Woods Published by Gabriel Woods Last Updated On: May 19, 2025

Cooking chicken can be tricky, and there are a bunch of ways to do it wrong.

Poor handling and no meal prep can cause food poisoning. A doctor visit may be needed.

Carnivore Style's team has gone ahead and listed the best way to defrost chicken below!

Quick Summary

  • Thawing chicken wings can be done through three safe methods: in the refrigerator, in the microwave, or in cold water.
  • The refrigerator method is the safest but takes longer (4-5 hours per 450g). The microwave is the fastest but requires careful attention. The cold water method preserves quality and takes 30-40 minutes per 2 pounds.
  • A 2023 Statista report says chicken thighs were the second most popular cut of chicken sold in the US in 2022, four times lower than chicken breast. Whole sales reached $8.7 billion [1].
  • Thawing chicken on the counter is not recommended as it exposes the meat to hot air and bacteria growth.
Table of Contents Quick Summary What’s the Best Way to Defrost Frozen Chicken Wings? How Not to Thaw Chicken Can You Cook Frozen Chicken? FAQs

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What’s the Best Way to Defrost Frozen Chicken Wings?

Woman opening a refrigerator

One of the biggest culprits of food poisoning is improper defrosting. It can also cause the food to taste bland. Unfortunately, frozen meat can be tricky to get right.

If you’re on a time crunch, you can end up cooking your frozen chicken wings before they’re ready to eat. Not only do poorly thawed frozen wings often taste unpleasant, but it is also a safety hazard.

According to Carnivore Style's team experts, there are 3 safe ways for thawing chicken wings:

  1. In the refrigerator
  2. In the microwave
  3. In cold water

Let’s look into each of these methods of thawing chicken wings in detail.

Let’s look into each of these methods of thawing chicken wings in detail.

Method 1: Thaw In The Refrigerator

This method of thawing chicken wings may take a little longer, but defrosting chicken in the refrigerator overnight is the safest way to thaw your wings.

Give yourself enough time if you wish to do this, and keep note of how long your chicken has been thawing.

The process is quite straightforward:

  1. Put your frozen meat into a large, sealed bag.
  2. To stop any excess juice leaking onto other food, sit your chicken to defrost on a lipped plate or bowl.
  3. Leave the meat to thaw at the bottom of the refrigerator for around 4-5 hours per 450g. Ideally, you should leave a whole chicken to thaw overnight.

The best way to to defrost chicken wings is likely this method. It requires the least effort and keeps the meat away from warm temperatures.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Elevate Your Meat Game with 3 Exclusive Guides →

Method 2: Thaw in the Microwave

Defrosting chicken wings in a microwave

Using a microwave to defrost the chicken wings is probably the fastest and most reliable way for thawing frozen chicken. While it is quick, it also needs your close attention as it defrosts.

You don’t want to end up cooking the chicken instead of thawing it. Doing so is a recipe for disaster.

You can ruin the chicken's texture, exposing the wings to bacteria and making it tough for you to cook. When microwaving your wings, you must get it right.

If it's cooked too hot oil too long or too high, you’ll completely ruin it, and it won’t be safe to eat.

The ice in the chicken will turn to hot water first, which will start to cook via steam from the inside.

Pro tip: Check on the meat every two minutes when microwaving.

Just remember: The chicken MUST be cooked immediately as soon as you finish thawing it in the microwave.

A study in the National Library of Medicine, found that:

  1. Microwave thawing caused the most drip loss.
  2. Refrigerator thawing best preserved quality.
  3. There were no significant texture differences across methods [2].

According to a Healthline article, microwaves heat poultry to a temperature between 40 and 140ºF (4.4 and 60 degrees C), in which bacteria thrive [3]. The only way you can cook the chicken safely is at the proper temperature since it will kill dangerous bacteria.

Read More: How to Defrost Meat in Microwave?

Method 3: Thawing in Cold Water

Sometimes referred to as a “cold, warm or hot water, bath,” this cold water method is fast and great at preserving the quality of the meat.

Fresh, unthawed meat always tastes better. But, this method keeps its flavor and texture, like oven or grilled chicken.

This method for thawing chicken wings can take around 30-40 minutes per 2 pounds of chicken to cook wings thaw safely.

Here’s how you do that:

  1. Fill a large bowl 3 quarters full with cold water and submerge your wings inside. To make sure the water stays fresh and cold, you can refill the water every 10 minutes.
  2. If you’re extra cautious about bacteria, you can also place the wing inside a clear plastic bag in the water.

Since you’re only using cool water for thawing chicken wings and not the whole chicken, it’ll take less time. Make sure the water is cold as the chicken is thawing.

This cold temperature will ensure the meat doesn’t fall into the danger zone of 40°F to 140°F, where bacteria develops.

A recipe has no soul. You, as the cook, must bring soul to the recipe.

- Thomas Keller

How Not to Thaw Chicken

A close up image of frozen chicken wings on a counter top

Do NOT thaw chicken on the counter. Unfortunately, this good old method of thawing chicken wings on the countertop ially a safe way. It can be pretty harmful.

Frozen food should never be left thawing on the counter because it leaves the chicken open to hot air and bacteria growth, as well as the countertop.

Thawing chicken wings using the methods above, either in the fridge or sink, will be much safer and quicker.

Can You Cook Frozen Chicken?

Baking chicken from frozen is possible. It’ll only take a longer time, but doable.

But, when you cook frozen chicken wings by frying, it won’t be very effective since the meat will get crispy on the outside before it cooks on the inside.

Read More:

    • How to Smoke a Turkey on a Pellet Grill
    • How to Cut Tri-Tip Steak Like a Pro
    • How Long To Marinate Chicken

 

FAQs

Uncooked chicken wings in a plain background

How Long Does Frozen Chicken Last?

You can generally store raw meat or chicken in the fridge for 2-3 days, storing it in the freezer will last between 9 to 12 months. Freezing meat is a good way to preserve your food. But even frozen food has expiration dates.

What’s the Safest Temp to Store Chicken?

As long as you’re outside an internal temperature of 40-140°F, your meat will be safe. Never keep poultry at room temp for a longer time than two hours.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Elevate Your Meat Game with 3 Exclusive Guides →

References:

  1. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1351434/sales-value-of-chicken-by-cut-in-the-us/
  2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26732333
  3. https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/how-to-defrost-chicken-the-safe-way/
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About the author

Gabriel Woods Gabriel Woods Chef/Food Editor [email protected] Certifications: ACM-CFC

Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management, Major in Culinary Entrepreneurship Summa Cum Laude.

With a deep passion for the culinary arts and a keen business acumen, Gabrielle is set to embark on a journey that promises to leave a lasting impact on the world of the culinary industry. Growing up in a family where food created memories and bonds, she sustained an interest in cooking and baking.

She earned her Culinary Entrepreneurship degree with a summa cum laude distinction from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines. Gabrielle then served as an assistant private chef – she helped clients achieve specific fitness goals by prepping protein-based meals and healthy side dishes.

At Carnivore Style, Gabrielle has honed her strategic leadership by analyzing the trends in meat consumption preferences. This guides our team in producing engaging content, such as recipes featuring popular cuts or cooking techniques.

She envisions a community where individuals follow their culinary dreams, making every delectable dish with love and soul for people to relish.

In her free time, Gabrielle loves to travel to new places, study their culture, and dine at diverse restaurants and cafes.

View All Posts Gabriel WoodsGabriel WoodsChef/Food EditorGabrielle Woods holds a BSc degree in Hospitality Management with a summa cum laude distinction from the University of Santo Tomas, majoring in Culinary Entrepreneurship. She helps clients achieve specific fitness goals through protein-based meal prepping. She believes cooking is both an art and a science best done with a balance of tradition and innovation. Learn more about our editorial policy Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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