Can frozen chicken have bacteria?

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Old_Cat_Lady
Old_Cat_Lady Posts: 1,193 Member
in Recipes
I was cleaning my countertop with bleach wipes. I was told that I don't have to worry about frozen chicken because the freezing kills the bacteria. It's just raw chicken that I have to worry about.
Is this true?

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  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 17,959 Member
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    If it has the bacteria before freezing, it can still be there when thawed. Salmonella and E Coli, in particular, are not killed by freezing. That's why the general recommendation is to not re-freeze meat.
  • jvcjim
    jvcjim Posts: 812 Member
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    freezing does not kill off most bacteria (unless it is below -80F) it will kill some but as the product thaws the bacteria will begin to multiply again which is why you always thaw in the refrigerator. most commercial food is frozen to around -40f at the factory and is stored around -20f... which is where a good home freezer will keep it.

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