Can you cook frozen chicken on a George Foreman grill?

This brief guide will answer the question, “Can you cook frozen chicken on a George Foreman grill,” and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of cooking frozen chicken in a George Foreman grill and how to cook frozen chicken George Foreman grill.

Can you cook frozen chicken on a George Foreman grill?

Yes, you can cook frozen chicken on a George Foreman grill. The time needed to cook chicken from its frozen form is in general 50% longer as if it is cooked from its unfrozen form (1).

For each pound of chicken, 15 to 18 minutes are necessary for the unfrozen form. Therefore, for the chicken in its frozen form, 23 to 27 minutes will be necessary to cook each pound of frozen chicken in a George Foreman grill. 

What are the benefits and drawbacks of cooking in a George Foreman grill?

The George Foreman grill is a model of electric grill, which operates at constant temperature and allows air to circulate equally in a closed environment. The benefits of cooking chicken in a George Foreman grill are (2,3):

  • The electrical device reaches high temperatures fastly. Cooking at high temperatures result in the production of aromatic flavorful compounds by Maillard reactions and caramelization
  • It can be used indoor and outdoor, independently of the weather conditions and reduces the risks of using flame, such as fire accidents 
  • It does not require charcoal. Charcoal burning is related to the generation of high quantities of heterocyclic amines and benzo-pyrene, which are considered mutagenic and carcinogenic. A study showed that the use of electric grill to cook chicken reduced significantly the amount of carcinogenic compounds generated during grilling

The drawbacks of cooking chicken in a George Foreman grill are (2,3):

  • The George Foreman grill requires electricity, which is of relative high cost
  • The George Foreman grill is an expensive cooking device
  • The George Foreman grill has a limited cooking area and is not expandable
  • The use of electric grills tend to reduce the protein and fat content in meat products (3)

How to cook frozen chicken on George Foreman grill?

To cook frozen chicken on a George Foreman grill, follow the instructions (1,2):

1. Heat grill on high input for five minutes (it should be at 225 to 300°F or 107 to 149°C).

2. Place the frozen chicken on the grill and allow it to cook. Once you notice that it is thawed, spice the chicken according to your personal preferences and return the chicken to the grill. In general, about 23 to 27 minutes are necessary to cook frozen chicken for each pound of frozen chicken. 15 to 18 minutes are necessary to cook thawed chicken

3. Cook till the safe internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) is reached

Is thawing the frozen chicken a good idea before cooking on George Foreman grill?

Yes, thawing the frozen chicken before cooking on a George Foreman grill is a good idea and also the best option, as it saves time and energy by thawing on the grill (1,2). 

The best way to cook frozen chicken is to thaw it in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours. If you don’t have 24 hours before you need to start cooking, you can speed up the thawing process in one of two ways:

1. Submerge the chicken in a bowl of cold water, and change the water every 30 minutes until the chicken is fully thawed. This should take 1 – 2 hours. When defrosting in the water, it is necessary to cook the chicken immediately

2. Defrost in the microwave following the thawing instructions of the equipment. When defrosting in the microwave, it is necessary to cook the chicken immediately.

What are the risks of incorrectly cooking on the George Foreman grill?

The risks related to incorrectly cooking, partial cooking or handling frozen chicken improperly are the occurrence of foodborne diseases. Chicken is highly susceptible to spoilage, especially by Salmonella and L. monocytogenes (1).

Some symptoms of foodborne diseases caused by the consumption of chicken contaminated by these bacteria are upset stomach, diarrhea, fever, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and dehydration. Severe cases can lead to hospitalizations and even death.

Therefore, it is necessary to follow the best hygienic practices and safety handling to prevent food contamination and foodborne diseases.  

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we have addressed the question, “can you cook frozen chicken on a George Foreman grill” and discussed the benefits and drawbacks of cooking frozen chicken in a George Foreman grill and how to cook frozen chicken George Foreman grill.

Citations

  1. Kitchen Companion: Your Safe Food Handbook. United States Department of Agriculture. 2015.
  2. Groberman, Sofie M., Makai J. Baker, and James T. Andrews. Bull Outdoor Products-Electric Grill. 2021.California Polytechnic State University.
  3. Yao, Mingjun, et al. Effects of cooking methods and tea marinades on the formation of heterocyclic amines and benzo [a] pyrene in grilled drumsticks. J Food protect, 2020, 83, 365-376. 

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