Need help with frozen chicken backs

227 Views 4 Replies 2 Participants Last post by pacanis, 13 d ago

pacanis

Discussion Starter · 16 d ago

Hi, sorry for no intro, but I'm in a pickle.
I just got home with a 40lb case of frozen chicken backs. This is the first time dealing with a whole case.

Google told me the easiest way to break them apart for smaller freezer packaging was leaving them in the box, putting the box up on 2x4's and whacking it with a sledge hammer. Supposedly they break apart where they are frozen to one another.

Not mine. The sledge hammer (full size) bounced right off. In one case I was left with a hole through the plastic bag and the imprint of the hammer on a piece of chicken, but they were still all frozen solid.

Any tips?
Currently they are sitting outside in the sun, but it's only about 50F. I didn't want to turn this into an all day project...

Thanks

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3GSD4IPO

· #2 · 16 d ago

It is a thaw enough that they come apart wait for it project.

I got a 10 pound bag of chicken necks.. the only reasonable way to deal with it was as noted above. Partially Thaw, separate, repackage, freeze.

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pacanis

Discussion Starter · #3 · 16 d ago

3GSD4IPO said:
It is a thaw enough that they come apart wait for it project.

I got a 10 pound bag of chicken necks.. the only reasonable way to deal with it was as noted above. Partially Thaw, separate, repackage, freeze.

Thanks.
I tried again after an hour, but the same thing happened.
So I moved around some food in my fridge, took out a shelf and set the case across the bottom to thaw. Or whatever it looks like tomorrow. I'll know to plan my time better to pick up the backs and process after this first time.

I used to BARF years ago and lost my chicken back supplier when I moved. I just wasn't buying enough other stuff from him anymore for him to get in the backs for me. Or pork belly for my bacon for that matter.

Anyway, I just started switching my two over a week ago and this is my first bulk purchase of chicken. I found a store that will order them in for me.

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pacanis

Discussion Starter · #4 · 14 d ago

Still frozen this morning.
I took the case outside (av 55F) and opened up the backs to the air. Seven hours later I was able to peel half a dozen off the rest. And eventually, after a few more hours, about a third is bagged. The rest still frozen solid.

I put the mass of backs into a cooler and will let that sit out overnight and hopefully tomorrow I can separate the rest.

The worse thing is, my grinder won't handle them. I barely got four backs ground. It will handle bone in breasts, wings and thighs, but not backs. This means continuing to buy the aforementioned and grind them until my youngest starts eating chicken pieces whole.

It will be worth it though.

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pacanis

Discussion Starter · #5 · 13 d ago

I easily packaged half of what was in the cooler just now. Six bags with 4-5 backs in each bag.
The backs were still frozen, but the outer layer peeled easily from the frozen block. This will be my method. I just need to pick up a larger cooler to hold the whole case while they partially thaw.

Progress!

And Kimber ate her first whole back for Breakfast!
Ranger is still struggling with the ground stuff. He ate half and Kimber finished the rest.

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