How to prepare and defrost chicken

[cait]

Hi

I want to introduce a simple chicken dish for my 6 month old son. I am very nervous as I dont want to poison him!  We have been going careful with weaning as he has silent reflux and is very windy. So far he has had rice and fruit and veg purees (he became very windy after sweet potatoe and green beans).

At present I cook the purees in batches, freeze in ice cube trays, when frozen I transfer to covered containers. The night before I take out of freezer what I need and defrost overnight in fridge and serve at room temperature the next day. My questions are as follows:

1) Looking for ideas for a first v simple chicken dish - have recepie books but there are a lot of ingredients in them - I want to take it slow due to above mentioned problems ( also Im not a great cook)

2) Can I prepare the chicken and freeze into ice cubes as above

3) Can I defrost overnight as above and then heat up in microwave

Tks in advance for reading and replying

[Nicola_G]

I cook chicken thighs (higher in fat than breast) with fresh unsalted chicken stock (NOT cubes) in the microwave until no longer pink. This last point is very important as chicken needs to be cooked properly or you will end up with food poisoning. Once cooked, I chuck the lot in the blender and then freeze in trays. Defrosts very well in the fridge, or 30 sec in the microwave.

I actually cook most meats this way as we are still on the simple stuff too.

You may find on defrost that the meat is a little drier than when you cooked it, I just add a little boiled water to make the right consistency.

You can always get fancy with chicken casserole-type dishes which can be blended up, but for now I am sticking with simple. If you do go a little more complex, I would avoid onion if your lo is windy!

[cait]

Thanks for reply.

Do you make your own chicken stock?

Do you defrost overnight in the fridge?

Rgds

C

[JacobMarksMummy]

I braise DS chicken in water with a knob of unsalted butter for 40mins (I am v.scared of giving him salminella  ) You could then try blending it to a puree with some of his usual milk then mix it in with one of his favourite veggies or give it by itself  HTH

[cait]

Sorry forgot to ask - I presume you wait untill chicken has cooled down before freezing?

Tks

[JacobMarksMummy]

Yes I do. I think chicken can be kept frozen for around a month and I defrost it in the fridge 

[cait]

Tks for all your help - much appreciated - just have to get cooking now!

[Nicola_G]

Just one more point on the freezing, it is important to put the chicken in the freezer as soon as possible. Leaving it to cool only provides a ripe breeding ground for bacteria. Sure, your freezer may warm up a couple of degrees when you put it in there, but it is only momentary and worth it to avoid any nasties.

[vmcdonald28]

Also, to avoid food poisoning, only freeze chicken which has NOT previously been frozen!

[evanskimberley]

Great advice ladies.

You can freeze previously frozen food as long as you have chnged its 'state'. Ie if it was raw when it was 1st frozedn you can defrost it, cook it thouroughly and then refreeze it.
But you can't refreeze cooked chicken.

[cait]

Bit confused now - so just to be sure - you can cook fresh chicken, dont leave too long to cool,  freeze and store frozen in covered containers, defrost overnight in fridge and then fully heat up in micorwave till l piping hot then allow to cool before serving (to save burning lo's mouth). Have I got in right?

Tks

[evanskimberley]

Sounds incredibly confusing doesn't it but yes thta's right!!!

[vmcdonald28]

sorry - didnt make that clear. as evanskimberley said...

Probably worth trying to avoid refreezing foods anyway - it can deteriorate the nutritional quality of the food. I'm no expert, so dont ask me how much it affects it!