How to Store Raw Chicken Long Term and Keep It Fresh

Chicken is arguably many people's favorite source of animal protein. It can be turned into plenty of delicious dishes to eat with rice or simply enjoyed as a snack. Because it is so popular, Indonesian families usually keep a lot of chicken at home. This stock usually comes in the form of a chicken carcass. A chicken carcass, or dressed chicken, is a bird that has been plucked, had its head and feet removed and its innards cleaned out, leaving one whole body. The carcass is usually cooked in several pieces and rarely used up in one go, so it has to be stored properly to keep the meat fresh. To keep chicken carcass meat fresh in storage, here are some tips for storing raw chicken.

1. Choose freshly slaughtered chicken

Make sure the chicken you choose was slaughtered on the same day it is sold. To check whether a chicken carcass is still fresh, look for a few signs: the meat springs back when pressed, its color is not pale and it has the typical smell of fresh meat.

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2. Cut the carcass into several pieces

Divide the chicken into several parts, then store each part in a tightly sealed plastic bag in the freezer. Storing a whole chicken carcass in the freezer will actually leave the meat less fresh when you cook it. This method also makes it easier to cook just a few pieces at a time.

3. Season before storing

Seasoning chicken before storing it turns out to help it keep longer in the freezer. These spices have antibacterial properties, so they help preserve the food.

4. Watch the freezer temperature

A good freezer should be at minus 18°C or colder. Stored at this temperature, meat can keep for up to 3 months or more. Avoid opening and closing the fridge often so the freezer temperature stays stable and bacteria and germs cannot survive and grow in the chicken carcass.

Also read Understanding Chicken Carcass Calculations for Tastier Chicken Dishes