Can You Microwave Undercooked Chicken? [KNOW It All]

Originally Created on: May 16, 2023 @ 11:26 am

Can you microwave undercooked chicken? Microwaving chicken may seem like an easy and convenient way to cook your poultry, but there are concerns it could leave your chicken undercooked.

While microwaves can cook food rapidly, fully cooking chicken to proper temperatures evenly can be tricky.

Microwaves tend to cook food from the outside, meaning chicken meat’s dense inner parts receive less heat exposure.

This can result in parts of the chicken being undercooked while the surface appears done. To find out more, keep reading!

Also Read: Can You Microwave Salt Dough? [Ultimate GUIDE + 6 Steps]

Can You Microwave Undercooked Chicken?

Microwaving undercooked chicken is not recommended from a food safety standpoint. Chicken must be thoroughly cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F to kill harmful bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses, such as salmonella.

When chicken is undercooked initially, it often means these bacteria are still present.

Microwaving undercooked chicken will likely not raise its internal temperature enough to eliminate all bacteria.

Microwaves can create hot spots in food that seem done while leaving colder areas with bacteria. Even if the surface of the chicken reaches 165°F, the internal areas may remain undercooked.

Any bacteria on the undercooked chicken can contaminate other surfaces in the microwave through its juices.

These bacteria can then transfer to properly cooked foods reheated later in the microwave. That can lead to cross-contamination and foodborne illness.

Instead of microwaving undercooked chicken, throwing it out or cooking it again from the start using a method that allows for thorough heat penetration, like the oven or stovetop.

This will give the chicken more time and even exposure to high temperatures needed to kill bacteria.

If you decide to microwave undercooked chicken, it is important to carefully monitor the internal temperature with a food thermometer.

Cook the chicken in short bursts, rotating and covering as needed, until the thermometer reads over 165°F in both the center and thickest parts of the meat.

Even then, there are risks associated with microwaving raw undercooked chicken.

Is Microwaving Undercooked Chicken Safe?

Microwaving undercooked chicken is generally not recommended for food safety reasons.

Microwaves heat food unevenly, resulting in some parts of the chicken being only partially cooked while others are overcooked. That poses a risk of bacteria like salmonella in raw chicken surviving in undercooked parts.

While microwaves can help cook chicken, it is difficult to ensure that the interior evenly reaches the proper temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the meat.

The FDA recommends against microwaving whole cuts of poultry like a whole chicken because it is hard to verify that the internal temperature in the thickest parts reaches a safe temperature.

For these reasons, using a conventional oven or grill for cooking chicken is a safer way to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees throughout the poultry and kills any bacteria.

If microwaving is the only option, it is best to chop the chicken into smaller pieces first to help the microwave cook it more evenly and thoroughly.

Can You Cook Chicken Again If It’s Undercooked?

While some chicken dishes might work with slightly undercooked chicken, re-cooking undercooked chicken is generally not recommended.

The bacteria on raw or undercooked chicken can multiply quickly at room temperature, posing health risks.

Instead, throwing away undercooked chicken and starting fresh with a new piece is best.

Raw chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit to kill harmful bacteria.

If the chicken is discovered to be undercooked, the safest option is to dispose of it and not risk the bacteria multiplying further.

Cooking chicken a second time after being left at room temperature for any time still poses a risk of food poisoning.

Overall, for the safety of yourself and others who may eat it, “Can you cook chicken again if it’s undercooked?” The best practice is to throw out the undercooked chicken and start with a fresh piece to cook properly at the correct internal temperature.

The risks of foodborne illness from bacteria on undercooked chicken far outweigh any benefits from attempting to salvage and re-cook it.

Can You Microwave KFC Chicken?

Microwaving leftover fried chicken can seem easy to reheat or cook at KFC, but better alternatives exist. Microwaves often produce uneven heating, soggy breading, and fat that fails to crisp the skin properly.

The breading on fried chicken relies on the crispiness created when it is initially cooked in hot oil. Microwaves do not produce near the same temperature to re-crisp or brown breading on the chicken.

Instead, the breading absorbs moisture from the chicken and softens. That can make the breading “Can you microwave KFC chicken?” soggy and rubbery.

For the best results, it is best to reheat or cook leftover fried chicken in an oven or air fryer. These methods allow the breading to regain crispness while keeping the chicken juicy and heated.

Oil can also be added to a pan on the stovetop to create crisp fried chicken when microwaving is not optimal.

Can You Cook Undercooked Meat In The Microwave?

Cooking meat in a microwave requires caution. Undercooked meat can cause serious food poisoning. Proper preparation and longer cooking times are needed when microwaving meat.

Microwaves heat food unevenly. Simply popping meat into the microwave risks portions remaining raw. Bacteria like salmonella and E. coli on undercooked meat can lead to sickness.

Therefore, for meats like ground beef or chicken, careful monitoring and frequent rotation are vital during cooking. Stirring meat halfway through the recommended time can help avoid hot and cold spots in the final product.

Overestimating the necessary cooking time by a few minutes also reduces the risk of undercooking.

While microwaves can reheat precooked meat moderately well, they are generally not ideal for cooking raw meat from “undercooked.”

Special sauces, seasonings, and coating raw meat before microwaving can help transfer heat more evenly and improve results.

Still, professional chefs rarely recommend microwaves as the primary cooking method for meats beyond basic reheating.

Conclusion

Microwaving undercooked chicken poses food safety risks due to possible bacteria in undercooked meat.

For these food safety reasons, experts do not recommend microwaving undercooked chicken to remedy it being undercooked. 

The safer option is to discard or cook it again using conventional cooking methods to reach higher, consistent temperatures needed to kill harmful bacteria.

Therefore, if you are asking yourself if you can microwave undercooked chicken, the undercooked chicken should not be microwaved for safety.