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How to Cook Chicken Nuggets
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Chicken School

Cooking Frozen Breaded Chicken

Did you know that frozen breaded chicken is sometimes uncooked? For this reason, it’s important to always cook chicken according to the package instructions!

Chicken nuggets, fingers, tenders, strips, pieces – or whatever name they go by in your household – are a staple in the diet of nearly every kid on the planet, and many parents too. Frozen breaded chicken is a quick and easy meal for families on the go, however, if you are not careful these seemingly friendly breaded morsels can be vehicles for foodborne illness.

Many frozen breaded chicken products come fully cooked, but some are not fully cooked and it’s not always obvious since they’re breaded. This is why it’s so important to pay attention to the packaging and cooking instructions. It’s also important to avoid cooking shortcuts. You may be tempted to pop a frozen chicken burger in the toaster and expect that it will be sufficient to cook it through, but it’s definitely not and can lead to serious illness. Most breaded uncooked chicken requires a cook time of around 20 minutes in a 400°F oven, but that varies depending on the size, type and brand of chicken, so always read the instructions. 

Once your chicken is in the oven, many people like to transfer the unused frozen chicken to a plastic freezer bag and throw out the packaging to save storage room in your freezer. While this is a great idea, when the time comes to use up the rest of the chicken, you may have forgotten the instructions. That’s why it’s always a good idea to label the bag “cooked” or “uncooked” and cut out the cooking instructions from the box and save it with the freezer bag. 

No matter what type of chicken you’re cooking, all chicken, even frozen breaded chicken, needs to be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). The best way to ensure this is with a digital instant-read thermometer. When checking the temperature of your chicken, make sure you stick the end of the thermometer right in the middle of the thickest piece, and make sure the temperature reads 165°F (74°C) before eating.

Follow these simple tips and you and your family will be able to enjoy all the delicious chicken meals you want without the worry of getting sick!