Thawing Frozen Ground Beef in Water
- Basis beef can exist safely defrosted in the refrigerator, a basin of common cold water, or in the microwave.
- Defrosting in the microwave is the fastest choice, but then y'all must cook the beef right away.
- If you lot thaw basis beef in the fridge, it is safe to refreeze again.
If you, like many other home cooks, keep a supply of ground beefiness in the freezer, you lot're likely familiar with the defrosting procedure — which means you're probably likewise familiar with the frustration that comes with forgetting to accept the beef out of the freezer alee of time.
Defrosting ground beef properly ensures you lot steer clear from potential harmful bacteria. Dr. Darin Detwiler, a food regulatory expert and professor at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, says that "there volition never be an end to pathogens in our food, simply nosotros tin modify the culture around the future of food condom."
The next time you demand to bring your beef to room temperature, follow the methods beneath.
Method 1: In the refrigerator
"The safest fashion to defrost basis beef is to do then in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours," Detwiler says. The refrigerator method is safest because it "keeps ground beef out of the danger zone, which refers to temperatures between 40 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, where pathogens and bacteria can abound."
Detwiler says the fridge keeps the meat safely cool and warms information technology enough to fully defrost, which is crucial for "cooking the meat thoroughly to a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, which is required to impale any remaining pathogens."
To defrost basis beef in the refrigerator, place the parcel of frozen ground beef on a plate that's large enough to catch any possible drippings from the meat as it defrosts. Next, identify the plate on a low shelf in the refrigerator, which will aid y'all "avoid the possibility of juices dripping onto other foods." The basis beef should remain in the fridge for at to the lowest degree 24 hours to fully defrost.
If you don't use all of the defrosted ground beef right away, Detwiler says that it's safe to store the leftovers back in the freezer as long every bit you do so within 48 hours of the original defrosting. Even so, for extra condom insurance confronting pathogens and bacteria, Detwiler advises to cook the meat thoroughly before freezing information technology again.
Method 2: In cold h2o
If you need to defrost your footing beef and don't have a full 24 hours to await, y'all tin defrost it in a bowl of cold h2o. This method should take less than an hr, and information technology's safe every bit long as the water is changed out as it warms to room temperature.
To defrost basis beefiness in cold water, make sure the beef is sealed in a leak-proof parcel, similar a resealable plastic bag. "Set the plastic bag with the frozen meat in a sink or, preferably, in a big bowl, cover with cold h2o, and weigh the packet of meat downward with something heavy," Detwiler says. The weighing-downwards keeps the meat submerged, which is essential to keep the meat at a safe temperature for even defrosting.
Leave the packet submerged in cold water for 20 to xxx minutes. After that, you can "exam" the meat's readiness by gently poking it with your fingers. If you lot feel ice crystals or stiffness, then it needs more than fourth dimension (and a fresh circular of cold h2o). Once the meat is thawed, take it out of the water bowl and cook immediately.
Method 3: In the microwave
For the quickest possible defrosting method, y'all tin defrost the ground beefiness in the microwave. This method yields prophylactic-to-eat ground beef, but with one major caveat: you have to cook it right away.
"Remove all packaging, and so identify the meat on a plate. Use the microwave'due south defrost settings or set information technology at 50% ability for ii to three minutes, rotating and flipping the beef every thirty seconds, until it is fully thawed. Cook immediately and thoroughly to a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit," Detwiler says.
1 important note: You shouldn't refreeze beefiness if y'all thaw it in the microwave. Considering the meat is exposed to high temperatures (and has therefore spent time in the danger zone), stashing it in the fridge to cook later on isn't a condom move, either. Save this method for when yous're set to go cooking immediately.
What to avert
- Never thaw footing beef at room temperature. "Some people leave frozen meat out on the counter to thaw and will go out it there for six to eight hours, thinking that this will definitely become the job washed. In reality, this allows it to go besides warm and allows pathogens to grow," Detwiler says.
- Never thaw basis beef using hot h2o. Just every bit thawing meat on the counter leaves information technology exposed to danger zone temps, so does thawing the meat in hot water. The sudden daze of hot water on frozen meat will have negative effects on its texture, and every bit the water cools down, the meat becomes vulnerable to unsafe temperatures. Plus, the hot h2o could begin to "melt" the meat, which gives you lot a totally inconsistent cake of ground beefiness that'south partially cooked on the outside and still frozen on the within.
- Don't keep basis beef in the freezer for longer than four months. It'due south tempting to assume that basis beefiness can be kept in the freezer indefinitely. The USDA recommends using it within four months for the best quality, taste, and texture.
Insider'southward takeaway
Defrosting footing beef in the refrigerator is the safest pick, but it takes a full 24 hours. For faster results, submerge the frozen basis beef in common cold water for one 60 minutes. The quickest method is the microwave method, which will defrost the basis beef in just a few minutes, merely you'll have to melt the meat immediately.
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Source: https://www.insider.com/guides/kitchen/how-to-defrost-ground-beef
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