Proper thawing of frozen ground beef and other meats is essential to prevent dangerous food-borne illnesses. When frozen, any bacteria present in the meat are kept dormant. However, if not thawed properly these bacteria can activate and begin to multiply. That's why you should never defrost ground beef and other meats on a kitchen counter or in hot water. Instead, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends thawing meat in the refrigerator. If pressed for time, you can also safely defrost ground been in the microwave or in cold water.
In the Refrigerator
Step 1
Remove the ground beef from the freezer at least one day before you intend to use it. When refrigerated properly, it takes about 24 hours for beef to thaw, the USDA reports.
Step 2
Place it on a plate or in another container if it is not still in the store packaging. This will catch all the juices as the meat thaws.
Step 3
Set the beef down flat on a shelf in your refrigerator and allow it to thaw for at least a day before using it.
In the Microwave
Step 1
Take the ground beef out of the freezer and remove any store packaging or foil if you broke down a larger package and rewrapped it yourself.
Step 2
Place the ground beef in a microwave-safe container.
Step 3
Set your microwave on the low setting, or the thaw or defrost setting if it has one, and run the microwave for a few minutes or the predetermined time if your microwave has a setting.
Step 4
Check the meat to see if it has thawed. If not, reset the microwave for a few more minutes to finish defrosting it.
Step 5
Use the meat immediately once thawed. You must cook any meat product defrosted in the microwave immediately because some parts of the meat may already have begun cooking during the thawing process, the University of Illinois Extension reports.
In Cold Water
Step 1
Take the beef from the freezer and remove the packing only if it is not waterproof. Ground beef still in the store packaging likely is waterproof and can be left intact for the thawing process.
Step 2
Fill your kitchen sink or a large enough container to accommodate the beef with cold water.
Step 3
Place the beef in the water to start the defrosting.
Step 4
Replace the water every 30 minutes so the meat stays cold enough, the USDA advises.
Step 5
Remove the beef from the water after it has fully defrosted. Thawing time depends on the amount of meat you have. A package of about 1 lb. of beef may take about an hour, but larger packages of beef will take several hours.
Tips and Warnings
- Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water if you touch the raw meat while preparing it for defrosting. In addition, immediately wash any utensils and other cookware or kitchenware that comes into contact with the raw meat. Once thawed, you should use ground beef within a day or two, the USDA advises. If you refrigerate it, you can refreeze it if necessary.
- Never leave ground beef or any other meats or perishable foods at room temperature for more than two hours, the USDA warns.
Things You'll Need
- Plate or container, if necessary
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