Defrosting and cooking guidelines
Plan in advance how long it will take to defrost to make sure it’s ready to cook when you need it
We recommend defrosting your meat slowly in the fridge at 4°C – 12hrs/kg. If you’re in a rush you can defrost in a warm room 20°C – 4hrs/kg
Place the meat in a large dish to catch any juices
Before cooking make sure there are no ice crystals in the birds cavity, all the joints should move freely and the meat should be soft when pressed
Once defrosted keep in the fridge and get out 2 hours before cooking to bring it up to room temperature
We have found that this chicken cooks a lot quicker than standard recommended timings, this is because of the higher levels of intramuscular fat from a longer life. Typically they usually take 20mins per kg at 180°C. Get the bird out of the oven when it’s at 65°C then let it rest up to 74°C.