Can You Freeze Teriyaki Chicken? – How Long Can Teriyaki Chicken Last in the Freezer?

by

Can You Freeze Teriyaki Chicken? The tastiest chicken preparations are made with chicken breasts and teriyaki chicken is no different. Teriyaki chicken is essentially a crispy fried chicken dish mixed with soy-based teriyaki sauce.

Now, teriyaki chicken is undoubtedly a lovely dish to enjoy. But, if you manage to end up with leftovers, can you freeze teriyaki chicken?

In this article, we will explore whether or not teriyaki chicken can be frozen safely and enjoyed at a later point of time, and if you can freeze it, then what is the proper method to go about it.

We will also highlight some important aspects that you will need to remember when it comes to freezing teriyaki chicken! Let’s get on with it!

Can You Freeze Teriyaki Chicken

Can You Freeze Teriyaki Chicken?

Yes, you can freeze teriyaki chicken. If you follow all the necessary steps and take the appropriate precautions, you will be able to enjoy teriyaki chicken over a span of 3 months or more.

That said, freezing teriyaki chicken is not as simple as cooking the dish and tossing it in the freezer in a Tupperware. There are some considerations to be taken, which we will highlight in the following section!

How To Freeze Teriyaki Chicken?

In order to begin the process of freezing teriyaki chicken, you first need to keep a knife, multiple freezer-safe baggies or containers, and teriyaki sauce.

Now while you can prepare the teriyaki sauce at home itself using simple recipes, you can also buy pre-packaged teriyaki sauce from your nearby supermarket. As far as the chicken is concerned, you should ideally buy chicken breast pieces and chop them up according to your preference.

  • The first step is to cut the chicken breast into small chunks. Make sure that you wash the chicken thoroughly and simply dice them using your knife.
  • The next step is to prepare the teriyaki sauce using soy sauce, sugar, garlic, and a little chunk of ginger. Alternatively, you can either use a recipe of your choice or simply buy the pre-packaged version of teriyaki sauce from your nearby supermarket.
  • Once you have prepared the teriyaki sauce or bought it, the next step requires you to marinate the chunks of chicken with the sauce. Simply take a bowl, put the chicken in that along with the teriyaki sauce, and mix well.
  • Alternatively, you can also simply place the chicken in the freezer-safe baggie and mix it in that to skip a step!
  • Once you have mixed the sauce in a manner that every chicken chunk is coated with the sauce, simply place the mixture in your Ziploc baggie and be sure to squeeze any excess air out of the bag. If you have put the chicken with the sauce in a container, make sure it is an airtight one.
  • Finally, you need to properly label the baggies with the dates that you prepared them so that you can systematically use up the teriyaki chicken according to the earliest date of preparation, and then pop them in your freezer.

How Long Can You Freeze Teriyaki Chicken?

Ideally, if you follow all the steps to perfection, you can freeze teriyaki chicken for up to 3 months. That said, it is important to remember that chicken, like all other meats, will lose its freshness and become harder to chew, the longer you store it in your freezer.

Therefore, the best thing to do is to finish the chicken as soon as possible. This is not to say that the chicken will spoil or become inedible. It just won’t taste as good as when it was fresh.

The workaround to this is to ensure that the baggies or containers that you use to store the chicken are airtight or vacuum sealed. Reduced exposure to natural air will increase the shelf life of the chicken and keep it fresh and supple for longer.

Related Articles:

How Do You Thaw or Defrost Frozen Teriyaki Chicken?

Thawing teriyaki chicken is a process best done gradually. Therefore, transfer the teriyaki chicken from the freezer into the refrigerator and leave it there overnight. This is the best way to ensure that the chicken thaws uniformly without any scope of bacteria growth.

The advantage of marinating the chicken and placing it in the freezer is that while the chicken thaws, the liquid sauce it is in will also thaw and further marinate the meat. Therefore, by the time it has thawed completely, the flavor will fill every bite of chicken!

Alternatively, you could either place the baggies of frozen chicken in a bowl of water and leave it out while monitoring the temperature of the water and ensuring that it is not too high, or simply place the chicken in a microwave and heat it up using the thawing function.

Some Tips and Tricks for Freezing Teriyaki Chicken

Here are some tips and tricks that you can use to ensure that your teriyaki chicken is properly frozen and tastes as fresh and delicious as possible when you finally take it out of the freezer to cook it!

  • When possible, store the chicken before cooking it finally. Once you have marinated the chicken, leave it in the freezer and then cook it when you want to eat it. This will make the chicken taste as fresh as possible when you eat it!
  • Rather than storing the chicken marinated in teriyaki sauce in a container, transfer the mixture into a baggie that can be vacuum sealed. With the constriction in space inside the bag, the liquid will be forced to marinate the chicken chunks uniformly and thoroughly. This will ensure a better taste when you finally cook the chicken.
  • Make sure that you cook the teriyaki chicken properly and on high heat. This will kill any bacteria festering on the chicken and in the sauce and ensure that you stay safe from food poisoning.

Is It Possible to Refreeze Thawed Teriyaki Chicken?

While it is possible to refreeze thawed teriyaki chicken, it is not something that we would do.  When food is thawed, its temperature rises, and bacteria that may have been present before freezing can start to grow. If you refreeze the thawed chicken, this bacteria can multiply, potentially leading to food poisoning.

If you have thawed teriyaki chicken and are not able to use it right away, it is best to cook it and then refreeze the cooked chicken.

Cooked chicken can be safely refrozen as long as it is handled and stored properly and has not been left out at room temperature for an extended period of time. To refreeze cooked chicken, place it in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap.

Does Teriyaki Chicken Freeze Well?

Yes, teriyaki chicken does freeze well and this is mainly because of the presence of the teriyaki sauce. The water content of the sauce keeps the chicken soft and prevents freezer burn from setting in and making the chicken hard to chew. Further, the presence of the sauce in the baggie also ensures that the chicken marinates for a long time even when it is in the freezer!

FAQs on How Long Can Teriyaki Chicken Last in the Freezer

1. Can you freeze cooked teriyaki chicken?

Yes, you can freeze cooked teriyaki chicken. However, the chicken is bound to get harder with time. Therefore, you should try to eat it up as soon as possible.

2. How long will teriyaki chicken last in the refrigerator?

The shelf life of your teriyaki chicken in your refrigerator will depend on whether it is cooked or uncooked. If you have already cooked it, the chicken will last for only a couple of days. However, if the chicken has only been marinated and not cooked, then the chicken will remain edible for about a week.

3. Can you use store-bought teriyaki sauce to prepare teriyaki chicken?

Yes, you can use store-bought teriyaki sauces to marinate your chicken chunks and then freeze them. The advantage of using homemade teriyaki sauce is just that you can customize the taste to meet your preferences and prepare it freshly!

Key Takeaways

Teriyaki chicken is one of the greatest and simplest preparations to increase your lean protein intake. But since preparing it can take a little while, why not freeze it once and for all and reap the benefits of extended marination?

Do remember that you must be careful when you refreeze it since it could lead to spoilage. You will find more information about freezing different foods like can you freeze breaded chicken, can you freeze coronation chicken, and many more at Canyoupreserve.com website.

Leave a Comment