5 Differences Between Frozen Chicken Breast And Fresh Chicken Breast

The debate whether to buy frozen chicken breast or fresh has been going on for decades.

There are many differences between these two types of meat as well as numerous similarities.

If you know how to cook your meat properly, then there’s not really a difference between them at all.

So now, let’s figure out how frozen and fresh chicken breasts differ from each other.

What is frozen chicken breast?

Frozen chicken breast is a popular food product, which can be found at any supermarket.

Frozen chicken breast is actually the chicken breast cut, either raw or cooked, that is stored in the freezer.

Normally, if chicken breast is stored properly in the freezer, it has no difference from fresh chicken breast, from nutritional content to their taste.

Frozen chicken breast can be used in numerous recipes, including baking, grilling, roasting, or deep-frying.

You can choose between raw chicken breast or a pre-cooked dish from chicken breast, such as chicken nuggets or patties, which are also kept inside the freezer to lengthen their shelf life.

In general, frozen chicken breast is sold at a lower price compared to the fresh counterpart.

What is fresh chicken breast?

Fresh chicken breast is the breast cut from a chicken that is sold on the market right after the bird is slaughtered and has never been frozen.

Therefore, fresh chicken seems to be juicier and moist because it is kept at room temperature.

Fresh chicken breast can come with skin-on or skinless, bone-in or boneless.

This type of chicken can also refer to the air-chilled chicken breast that has been chilled to keep its quality high until purchase day, which is why it is a bit cold when touching.

The breast cut is passed through several chambers where cold and purified air is used to cool down the meat and lower the chance for contamination and cut down some water content.

What are the differences between frozen chicken breast vs fresh chicken breast?

Frozen chicken breast and fresh chicken breast are generally similar, however, they do have some key differences, as listed in the comparison table below:

What are the similarities between frozen chicken breast vs fresh chicken breast?

As already mentioned, frozen chicken breast and fresh chicken breast are actually the same things in two different conditions.

Here are some things that frozen chicken breast and fresh chicken breast have in common:

1. Frozen and fresh chicken breast have the same taste and nutritional content if properly stored

A common misconception between these two kinds of meat is people think frozen chicken breast is something inferior to fresh chicken breast.

In fact, if the chicken is properly stored without being exposed to the air, there is no difference between frozen chicken breast and the fresh version.

They are both rich sources of lean protein and some essential nutrients like magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, or selenium, and they have a taste of chicken.

2. Fresh and frozen chicken breast can be cooked the same ways and interchangeably

When it comes to cooking chicken breast, there are plenty of methods for you to choose from, no matter if it is frozen or fresh.

You can bake, grill, roast, deep-fry breaded chicken breast slices, or stir-fry.

One thing to keep in mind is frozen chicken breast should be thawed completely (better in the fridge overnight) so that it can be cooked thoroughly.

Therefore, you should plan ahead to cook your frozen chicken breast and let it gradually thaw in the fridge from the previous night to ensure that it is ready to be cooked the next day and your meal can be done quickly.

Which one is better?

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We hope this article has given you a better understanding of the differences and similarities between frozen and fresh chicken breasts.

They are both a healthy source of protein and taste delicious.

Frozen chicken breasts are cheaper and last longer, so as long as you can choose a good package of this type, it will be more economical than fresh chicken breasts without sacrificing flavor.

Good luck with your choice!