Meat that is frozen properly keeps for months without spoiling and is a common way of preserving it. Raw and cooked meat alike stores in the freezer for long periods of time. It requires time to freeze meat and, to handle frozen meat properly and safely without ruining the meat or its flavor, it must be fully thawed. Once defrosted or thawed, the meat can be broken apart and used for the desired application and can sometimes be broken apart when only partially thawed. There are three basic methods of thawing meat, each with a different time frame.
Step 1
Thaw the meat in the refrigerator. Thawing in a refrigerator takes many hours, however, and this method should be reserved for when you have time for a thorough thaw. Leave the meat in its original packaging to prevent dehydration. Let the package sit in the refrigerator overnight.
Step 2
Use water to thaw the meat. Place the meat in a container and completely cover it with lukewarm water to thaw out meat in 20 minutes for small cuts and 1 to 2 hours for large cuts. Change the water often. This method is often employed by restaurants to thaw meat in a brief amount of time. Meat can be broken apart by hand or with use of a cleaver or knife to pry the pieces apart once semi-thawed.
Step 3
Partially defrost the meat in a microwave briefly to soften it enough to break apart. Remove the meat from its packaging and place it in a microwave-safe container. Fill the container with enough water to cover the meat and place the container in the microwave.
Step 4
Set the timer on "defrost" according to the microwave's specific instructions or setting. Most microwaves defrost meat at a rate of 5 minutes per pound. Check the meat halfway through the defrosting process for its level of thawing. For ground meats, use a spatula to break up and stir the meat.
Tips and Warnings
- Read the manufacturer's operation manual for your microwave because each model has differing times and settings for defrosting food.
- Do not leave meat to defrost on the counter or at room temperature, which will cause mold and bacteria to grow.
Things You'll Need
- Lukewarm running water(optional)
- Refrigerator(optional)
- Microwave(optional)
- Microwave-safe bowl(optional)
- Cleaver or knife(optional)
- Spatula(optional)
Member Comments