# Best way to separate frozen chicken breasts w/o too much thawing?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-separate-frozen-chicken-breasts-w-o-too-much-thawing/456213>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [July 12, 2008, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-separate-frozen-chicken-breasts-w-o-too-much-thawing/456213 "2008-07-12T04:40:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-separate-frozen-chicken-breasts-w-o-too-much-thawing/456213/1 "2008-07-12T04:40:22Z")

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I have a bag of bulk chicken breasts in which four pieces are stuck together. Any recipe I use for them will use two, max. Prying with my chef’s knife doesn’t seem to work. How do I separate them without having to thaw and refreeze them, which I understand is bad for both their texture/taste and safety?

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**Author:** ![LadyMack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4491bb/32.png) [@LadyMack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LadyMack)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-separate-frozen-chicken-breasts-w-o-too-much-thawing/456213/2 "2008-07-12T04:44:27Z")

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Drop them on the floor. Seriously.

I buy the 3 pound? bags, and that’s the only way I can get them apart without a total thaw.

_wham_

Repeat as needed.

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**Author:** ![freekalette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/50afbb/32.png) [@freekalette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freekalette)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-separate-frozen-chicken-breasts-w-o-too-much-thawing/456213/3 "2008-07-12T13:40:34Z")

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I always use a butter knife to pry them. Works best if you hit it with a hammer.

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**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-separate-frozen-chicken-breasts-w-o-too-much-thawing/456213/4 "2008-07-12T14:47:05Z")

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Run your knife under hot water first.