Resting chickens... Help!

[Aah90]

If I am unable to fit all birds in a refrigerator for the 24-48 hr resting period is it ok to put them in a cooler of ice water.

 

[3KillerBs]

Yes, a cooler should be fine. Though I'd use just ice rather than ice water after the initial chilling because I wouldn't want the meat waterlogged.

Ice water for the initial chill-down though because it penetrates better to quickly remove heat from the carcass.

 

[Aah90]

Thank you! I searched everywhere and still wasn’t able to find an answer. Surely I’m not the only one with inadequate fridge space

 

[3KillerBs]

Thank you! I searched everywhere and still wasn’t able to find an answer. Surely I’m not the only one with inadequate fridge space

I've kept raw meat on ice for most of a week in a camping cooler as long as there was plenty of ice and the cooler was in the shade.

 

[Molpet]

Lots of us use coolers
I keep frozen jugs of water in the freezer and swap every 8 hrs. Keeps the freezer full so it uses less electric and something I can take out when I need room.