Note to the housewife: how to properly store smoked chicken at home
It's hard to find someone who doesn't like smoked chicken. Tender, juicy meat with a slight smoky aroma that melts in your mouth.
Smoked chicken meat is a fairly dietary and healthy product (rich in vitamins B, C, potassium, sodium, phosphorus and iron).
The only caveat is that smoked chicken is a perishable product, so failure to comply with certain storage rules will very quickly turn this delicious delicacy into meat unsuitable for consumption.
We will tell you further about how to properly store smoked chicken at home.
Content
Preparation for storage
In order to preserve the freshness of smoked chicken meat for as long as possible, it is worth remembering a few points.
Firstly, before storing smoked meat, it is very important to make sure it is fresh (the carcass is carefully examined and smelled).
Only cooled chicken can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. Sudden temperature changes (warm meat and low temperature in the refrigerator) will lead to condensation appearing on the surface - a catalyst for the processes of spoilage and decomposition of chicken meat.
How and where?
There are several options for storing hot or cold smoked chicken.
In a refrigerator
Since the temperature in the refrigerator compartment is unevenly distributed, store smoked chicken must be on a shelf as close as possible to the freezer (in this zone the temperature rarely exceeds +3°C).
If home-smoked chicken or meat was purchased without packaging, before storing the product in the refrigerator, it must be wrapped in parchment.
It is better not to use containers or polyethylene, since condensation very quickly forms under the lid (film) - an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria and fungi.
Vacuum-packed meat in the refrigerator stays fresh for up to seven days. The vacuum helps not only to preserve the product from rapid spoilage, but also to prevent the spread of the strong aroma of smoke inside the refrigerator.
In the freezer
The freezer will help to extend the shelf life of smoked chicken meat as much as possible.
How to freeze a product:
- The chicken carcass is divided into portioned pieces.
- Dry each portion thoroughly with paper towels (the flesh should not be wet), then wrap tightly in cling film or parchment paper.
- The prepared chicken is stored in the freezer.
It is also not worth re-freezing already thawed chicken (repeated freezing worsens the taste of the meat and makes the flesh loose).
At room temperature
If boiled meat is stored at room temperature for no more than three hours, then smoked meat (which has undergone special heat treatment) remains fresh for much longer.
The main thing is that the room is well ventilated and dry. Meat wrapped in parchment or food foil (prevents chapping) is placed on shelves or a table, away from direct sunlight.
Alternatively, the chicken can be placed in glass or metal containers with a lid.
In the attic
For owners of private homes, an unheated attic can be a good place to store whole smoked chicken carcasses (it is important that the room is dry and dark).
Maximum shelf life is possible only if the meat has been thoroughly salted before smoking.
Expiration dates
How long can smoked chicken be stored? Depending on the storage location, the freshness of the product is maintained:
- in the refrigerator for up to two days (unpacked), up to seven days (in a vacuum);
- in the freezer for up to six months (unpacked), up to eighteen months (in a bag);
- at room temperature for up to two days (unpacked), up to seventy-two hours (packed).
Separately, it is worth noting the shelf life of hot smoked chicken. Since the hot smoking process does not involve long-term processing, such meat can be stored in the refrigerator (from +3°C to +7°C) for no more than four days.
The duration of storage of smoked chicken meat is largely determined by the depth of smokedness of the pulp. The more smoked the chicken is, the less susceptible it is to rotting and decomposition.
How to increase the freshness period of a product?
If necessary, extend the shelf life of smoked chicken in the refrigerator up to two weeks in the following way:
- A piece of gauze is soaked for half an hour in a saline solution (1 tablespoon of salt is enough for 250 ml of warm water).
- Portioned pieces of smoked meat are tightly wrapped in gauze, followed by several layers of parchment paper.
- The product prepared for storage is sent to the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.
Periodically, the chicken must be unwrapped and checked for signs of spoilage.
Vacuum bags will also help prolong the freshness of delicacy meats. (sold in hardware stores). High-quality smoked chicken meat, without signs of spoilage, dried with paper towels, is placed in the bag, after which all air is removed from the bag through a special hole (for such purposes, a special device is used - a vacuum cleaner).
If you don’t have vacuum bags on hand, they can be replaced by hermetically sealed containers with a valve to remove air.
How can you tell if a chicken is missing?
It is very easy to understand that smoked chicken has gone bad. It is enough to carefully examine and smell the carcass.
You should be wary:
- white mold deposits;
- unpleasant, sour smell of rotten meat;
- a thin layer of sticky mucus;
- soft, crumbly pulp that can be easily separated into fibers with a fork.
Adviсe
You can choose high-quality, fresh smoked chicken in the store by the color of the bird’s skin.
Dry, light brown skin is a sign of a quality product. A dark brown skin with small white spots indicates that the chicken has begun to deteriorate and it is better to refuse such a purchase.
When buying meat in vacuum packaging, it is a good idea to pay attention to the integrity of the package. Not allowed: vacuum damage, air, liquid or ice inside the bag. The package should be marked with the release date and shelf life.
Video on the topic of the article
This video will show you how to store smoked meat:
Conclusion
Smoked chicken is not only tasty, but also very healthy. By following storage rules, you can enjoy the delicate taste of this meat delicacy for as long as possible.
