Division 5.7 The bag is left in the water-bath, maintained at 42 ± 2 °C throughout, with continuous movement of the bag or continuous agitation of the water, until the thermal centre of the carcase (the deepest part of the breast muscle close to the breast bone, in chickens without giblets, or the middle of the giblets in chickens with giblets) reaches at least 4 °C, measured in two randomly chosen carcases. The carcases should not remain in the water bath for longer than is necessary to reach 4 °C. The required period of immersion, for carcases stored at – 18 °C is of the order of:
United Kingdom
| Weight class (g) | Weight of carcase + offal (g) | Indicative immersion time in minutes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chickens without offal | Chickens with offal | ||
| < 800 | < 825 | 77 | 92 |
| 850 | 825 — 874 | 82 | 97 |
| 900 | 875 — 924 | 85 | 100 |
| 950 | 925 — 974 | 88 | 103 |
| 1 000 | 975 — 1 024 | 92 | 107 |
| 1 050 | 1 025 — 1 074 | 95 | 110 |
| 1 100 | 1 075 — 1 149 | 98 | 113 |
| 1 200 | 1 150 — 1 249 | 105 | 120 |
| 1 300 | 1 250 — 1 349 | 111 | 126 |
| 1 400 | 1 350 — 1 449 | 118 | 133 |
For carcases over 1 400 g, an increase of seven minutes for each additional 100 g is required. If the suggested period of immersion is passed without reaching + 4 °C, in the two carcases which are checked, the thawing process is continued until they do reach + 4 °C in the thermal centre.