resting the chicken...

[cestial225]

So my husband just process two of our bantam cochins. They are all cleaned up so I just stuck them in ziplock gallon bags and put them in the fridge. Is that what most people do when they say they are resting the chicken? How long should I let it rest in the fridge before putting cooking it or freezing? Thanks!

 

[HS Pye]

You don't need to wait. I've slaughtered chickens and either we cook them then or freeze them for later.

HS Pye

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

I either rest it in the fridge for 2 days before cooking or put it right in the freezer. The way I look at it, it takes two days for a frozen bird to thaw anyway, so that's when it can do its resting/relaxing.

You just don't want to cook up a freshly butchered bird immediately, the rigamortis has set in and makes the meat extremely tough. The resting period is just giving time for the muscles to relax after death.