How Long To Defrost Ground Beef In Fridge

3 Ways to Defrost Basis Beef—and Why Y'all Should Never Thaw It on the Counter

There are a few methods, and the one you choose will probably come downward to how much time you have.

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It has happened to all of us: It'south 5 p.grand. and you but realized y'all forgot to defrost the ground beef you lot need for tonight's dinner. This doesn't mean you demand to keep it in the freezer and relieve it for a unlike day—you tin still go the repast you planned on the table without waiting hours for the meat to defrost. At that place are a few different thawing methods you lot can choose from based on how much time y'all have before you need to start cooking: Basis beef can be thawed in the fridge, in cold water, and fifty-fifty in the microwave.

frozen ground beef

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Thawing Ground Beef in the Refrigerator

While it might not be the fashion to go if you lot need the meat for this night'southward dinner, if you have enough time for this method, defrosting ground beef in the refrigerator is the style to go. "Thawing ground beef in the refrigerator is our preferred method for safe thawing," says Britanny Saunier, executive director of Partnership for Food Safe Education. Co-ordinate to Saunier, this method gives you lot better control of the temperature and avoids the danger zone—the temperature at which bacteria multiply rapidly, which is between 40 and 140 degrees.

The first step is to set up your refrigerator to forty degrees or beneath equally measured by an appliance thermometer. Place the ground beef, still in its packaging, on a tray with a lip or in a container that can capture any juices as it thaws. Side by side, Saunier says to put the ground beefiness on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator to prevent any runaway juices from dripping on other raw products, which can cross-contaminate your nutrient.

How Long It Takes to Thaw Ground Beef in the Refrigerator

Although defrosting footing beef in the refrigerator is the safest method, it also takes the longest time. "Thawing time in a refrigerator may vary depending on the temperature of your fridge," Saunier says. "For example, a refrigerator set at 35 degrees might lengthen the thawing time compared to a refrigerator set at forty degrees." Additionally the size or weight of the beef will also impact the thawing time. More often than not, thawing in the refrigerator usually takes one to ii days.

Thawing Ground Beef in Cold Water

While it's a slap-up way to thaw the protein rapidly, defrosting footing beefiness in common cold water requires more attending than using the refrigerator. This method should only exist used if the water is kept cold—less than 70 degrees, says Tracey Brigman, EdD, MS, RDN, LD, clinical associate professor and acquaintance director for National Eye for Home Nutrient Preservation at the Academy of Georgia.

"For prophylactic thawing, the nutrient must exist in a leak-proof package or plastic bag," Brigman says. You can defrost basis beefiness in common cold h2o 2 ways: Run h2o constantly over the bag of protein until thawed or place the bag of footing beef in a bowl full of cold tap water and ensure it is completely submerged. "The h2o must be changed every 30 minutes as the food continues to thaw," Brigman says.

How Long It Takes to Thaw Footing Beef in Cold Water

Thawing times vary by weight when using the cold water method. According to Saunier, small packages may take about an hr to defrost, while larger packages (well-nigh 3 to 4 pounds) could take anywhere from two to iii hours.

Thawing Ground Beef in the Microwave

"Thawing in the microwave is best if you demand a fast thaw time," Saunier says. First, remove all store packaging, because it's typically not heat resistant, says Brigman. Then place the beef in a microwave-safety container and embrace loosely with plastic wrap. Next, select the defrost feature on the microwave or manually set information technology to thirty percent ability. "If your microwave does not rotate automatically, rotate the container halfway through the defrosting process," she says. You should also check the instruction manual for your microwave, which provides information on the proper settings for thawing.

When thawing ground beefiness in the microwave, Saunier stresses that the ground beef should exist cooked immediately because some areas may first the cooking process during the thawing. "This brings parts of the food closer to temperatures at which bacteria multiply rapidly," she says. Additionally, she notes that y'all should launder your hands with soap and water before and after handling raw ground beef to reduce the risk of food poisoning.

How Long It Takes to Thaw Footing Beefiness in the Microwave

"Yous can have ground beef out of the freezer and put information technology correct into your microwave," says Saunier. Generally, it information technology should accept about seven to eight minutes per pound to defrost ground beefiness in the microwave, Brigman says, but this depends on the wattage of the microwave and the size and thickness of the meat.

Never Thaw Ground Beef on the Counter

While it may seem efficient, thawing meat on the counter is highly dangerous. "Ground beef should never be defrosted on the counter or in warm water," Brigman says. The outer layer of the food volition enter the danger zone and begin producing bacteria speedily while the inner layer is still thawing. When food enters the danger zone information technology makes yous more susceptible to food poisoning, which Saunier says can take long-lasting furnishings on your wellness.

Source: https://www.marthastewart.com/8133270/how-defrost-frozen-ground-beef

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