How long on ice in fridge?

[MKetter]

So I know people put their eviscerated birds on ice and/or in the fridge to let them get past rigor mortis. How long is this supposed to take?

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

If I recall correctly, we always kept ours in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, then threw them into the freezer. If it's any help, my butcher would always process the turkeys the Saturday before Thanksgiving so the turkeys would have time to settle and be ready.

 

[MKetter]

If I recall correctly, we always kept ours in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, then threw them into the freezer. If it's any help, my butcher would always process the turkeys the Saturday before Thanksgiving so the turkeys would have time to settle and be ready.

Did you do both? On ice AND in the fridge or just in the fridge?

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Did you do both? On ice AND in the fridge or just in the fridge?

Just the fridge. The most on ice I kept them was during transport, but once I got home, I kept them in the refrigerator. If you keep your refrigerator cold enough (like cold enough that the milk is always cold), then you shouldn't have to worry about ice.

 

[MKetter]

Just the fridge. The most on ice I kept them was during transport, but once I got home, I kept them in the refrigerator. If you keep your refrigerator cold enough (like cold enough that the milk is always cold), then you shouldn't have to worry about ice.

Bird in a plastic storage bag or what do you use?

I wonder if the gallon size would hold it. When making plans, I only got to the eviscerate and put on ice stage. I didn’t think about what to put it in in the fridge.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Bird in a plastic storage bag or…? I wonder if the gallon size would hold it. When making plans, I only got to the eviscerate and put on ice stage. I didn’t think about what to put it in in the fridge.

When I did my birds, I got food grade freezer bags from Murray McMurray Hatchery. If you have freezer ziplock bags, those should be good if you don't have anything else. I think Walmart sells a two gallon size. You want to make sure it's food grade and not just any bag (like scented garbage bags, shopping bags, etc) because the meat could absorb anything in the plastic and get ruined.
If you wanted to be fancy, you could vacuum seal it, but it's not necessary to do that and I might of only done that once or twice.

 

[Ridgerunner]

So I know people put their eviscerated birds on ice and/or in the fridge to let them get past rigor mortis. How long is this supposed to take?

It varies. Some on the individual bird, some on the temperature. Some will be ready in about a day, some may take three days or more. The way to tell is to wiggle a joint, say a leg. If it is the least stiff it is not ready. If it moved freely it is ready. Before rigor passes the meat will be stiff. Once rigor has passed the meat is very loose.

Did you do both? On ice AND in the fridge or just in the fridge?

The purpose in keeping it cold is to stop bacteria from growing. You do not want to freeze it, freezing stops rigor from passing. So however you can keep it cold enough without freezing it.

Bird in a plastic storage bag or what do you use?

The idea is to not contaminate anything else in the fridge with raw meat or the juices. A suitable plastic storage bag or a covered pot could work in the fridge. In an ice chest it does not need to be isolated by either.

You want to make sure it's food grade and not just any bag (like scented garbage bags, shopping bags, etc) because the meat could absorb anything in the plastic and get ruined.

Good point!!!

 

[MKetter]

When I did my birds, I got food grade freezer bags from Murray McMurray Hatchery. If you have freezer ziplock bags, those should be good if you don't have anything else. I think Walmart sells a two gallon size. You want to make sure it's food grade and not just any bag (like scented garbage bags, shopping bags, etc) because the meat could absorb anything in the plastic and get ruined.
If you wanted to be fancy, you could vacuum seal it, but it's not necessary to do that and I might of only done that once or twice.

My sister had Walmart version of Ziploc freezer bags, so I got one from her. The bird fit in there, but the legs wouldn’t bend for me to zip it shut. I have a cheapie storage bag that I put her freezer bag with the chicken in, and it was just large enough to zip shut.

 

[MKetter]

It varies. Some on the individual bird, some on the temperature. Some will be ready in about a day, some may take three days or more. The way to tell is to wiggle a joint, say a leg. If it is the least stiff it is not ready. If it moved freely it is ready. Before rigor passes the meat will be stiff. Once rigor has passed the meat is very loose.


The purpose in keeping it cold is to stop bacteria from growing. You do not want to freeze it, freezing stops rigor from passing. So however you can keep it cold enough without freezing it.


The idea is to not contaminate anything else in the fridge with raw meat or the juices. A suitable plastic storage bag or a covered pot could work in the fridge. In an ice chest it does not need to be isolated by either.


Good point!!!

Thank you for the explanations. Really helps to know why things are done!

 

[iwltfum]

8-12 hours for rigor to pass usually. I air chill for about 12 hours or overnight generally. 24hours maximum time before freezing for me. I just feel like it gives me more fridge time after thawing when I want to eventually eat it. You really only get about 5 or 6 fridge days total with a raw chicken so I like to have those days on the cooking end to give myself some wiggle room.