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How Long to Thaw Ground Beef Before Cooking

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Were you all ready to grill the burger of a lifetime, only the solid brick of basis beef in your freezer had other plans? Don't fret. There are quick, safe ways to save your cookout and thaw that icy beefcube. If you're willing to push back the start time of your meal, the safest fashion to defrost basis beef is in the refrigerator. But, if yous're in a pinch, the microwave and a bowl of cold water are speedy and efficient means to defrost mr. beefiness. We'll make sure you avert bacteria and follow USDA-approved methods to get that beef ready for action.

  1. one

    Programme ahead 1-24 hours to thaw your meat completely. If you freeze your footing beef yourself in sparse packages (under 2 inches (5.i cm) thick), you lot can thaw footing beef in the refrigerator in under an hr.[1] Otherwise, programme for 24 hours for every 1 pound (450 g) of ground beef in the package.[2]

    • Keep in mind that the colder you go on your refrigerator, the longer the defrost time will be. Footing beef will thaw quicker in a refrigerator kept at forty °F (four °C) than it will in one kept at 35 °F (2 °C).
  2. 2

    Place the ground beef in a plastic bag or dish. The beef may leak through its packaging as information technology starts to defrost, leaving behind blood and bacteria. Exit the ground beefiness in its packaging, and set it on a tray or in a plastic bag to catch anything that may drip as information technology defrosts.[3]

    • The beef doesn't demand to be covered, other than by its ain packaging.

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  3. 3

    Refrigerate the beef on a lower shelf. Observe a place toward the dorsum of your refrigerator to place the package of ground beef. A lower shelf is a good idea, because there's less of a chance of the beefiness dripping on something below information technology.[4]

    • Placing the beefiness near the back of the fridge ensures it stays at a steady temperature.
  4. iv

    Cheque the ground beef before yous use it. With make clean hands, gently printing downwards on the ground beefiness through its packet. If y'all are able to get out an indentation in the centre of the beef, about of it will be defrosted enough to use.[5]

    • To bank check further, pause the bulk of ground beefiness in half and press into the eye. If the meat is soft enough to press, it is thawed all the manner through. If parts of the beef withal seem solid, it is not completely defrosted.
    • If necessary, you can finish up the defrosting process in the microwave.
  5. five

    Use the beef within one or 2 days. Defrosting basis beef in the fridge is the slowest method, but information technology'southward likewise the safest, as the beef is kept at a steady, cold temperature. When defrosted this way, you can keep the footing beef in the fridge for an additional 24 to 48 hours after thawing.[6]

    • Y'all can too refreeze the ground beef if you thaw information technology this style. If yous decide not to apply the ground beef after all, stick it back in the freezer within 24 to 48 hours of defrosting it.

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  1. one

    Programme on sixty minutes per 1 pound (450 k) of ground beef for thawing. Starting time at least an hour alee of when y'all demand your basis beef. That way, y'all'll be sure you have enough time to thaw your meat.[7]

    • Keep in listen that a larger bundle volition take longer. A bundle that is 3 to 4 pounds (1,400 to 1,800 g) can take 2-3 hours.[8]
    • Very thin packages (0.5 inches (ane.3 cm) or less) may thaw in as little as ten-20 minutes.[9]
  2. 2

    Secure the ground beef inside a resealable plastic bag. Identify the package of footing beef within a leak-proof plastic bag. Seal information technology upwardly as securely as possible by zipping the handbag shut.[ten]

    • If the bag leaks, bacteria tin can become to your food. Plus, y'all may end up with watery ground beef if it absorbs also much h2o.
  3. three

    Submerge the beef in cold tap h2o. Place the wrapped bundle of ground beefiness in a large bowl or dish and encompass it with cold tap water. Make certain that the beef is completely underwater. Leave the dish of water and the beef out on the counter as it defrosts.[11]

    • Only use cold water. Hot, warm, or even room temperature h2o can create a breeding footing for bacteria. If your tap h2o is too warm, add an ice cube or 2 to cool it down a little.
    • Yous could as well fill a make clean sink with cold water and submerge your beefiness in that. Simply make sure that the plug has a tight seal and that the sink is make clean before you showtime.
  4. 4

    Alter the water every 30 minutes. Drain the old water and refill the bowl with clean, cold water. This process allows the meat to go on defrosting while preventing the water from gathering likewise much bacteria.[12]

    • Plus, you ensure the h2o stays cool. Proceed calculation i-2 water ice cubes if your water is too warm.
  5. 5

    Check to see if the beefiness is thawed afterwards an hour. Press on the footing beef package with clean fingers. Once it is soft enough to press, the majority of the ground beef is thawed.[13]

    • Break the cake of footing beef open and press the center of the inside. If it is still hard, the heart of the beef is withal frozen.
  6. six

    Use the ground beefiness immediately. In order to foreclose bacteria from growing, you demand to use ground beef thawed in this fashion within two hours. If you are going to wait 2 hours, stick information technology in the fridge for that flow after it's thawed.[14]

    • Do not refreeze ground beefiness that you lot thawed in cold water, as it is more than likely to grow bacteria. If you cannot use information technology within 2 hours of defrosting it, your best option is to cook it earlier refreezing information technology.

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  1. 1

    Have the beef out of its packaging. It'due south not a proficient idea to thaw ground beefiness in its packaging, as you lot don't know if it's microwave safe. Some tubes fifty-fifty accept metal ties on the ends which can spark in your microwave.[fifteen]

    • Since this is a quick method, you lot can practise it right before starting dinner. You do not need to worry as much about starting the defrosting process in advance.
    • Prying the basis beef out of the package can be hard if it is fully frozen and sitting on a styrofoam tray. If you lot have difficulty removing the beefiness from its backing, place the beef inside a resealable plastic handbag, and nil it closed. Rinse the tray side of the beefiness under common cold running tap water until it loosens enough to remove.
  2. two

    Place the beef in a microwave-safety glass dish. Set up the raw beef into the dish. Make sure the dish has sides high enough to prevent whatever spills from defrosted juice. Cover the dish with a hat or another dish.[16]

  3. 3

    Microwave the beef at 50 percent ability. Aim for three minutes per 1 pound (450 thou) of basis beefiness. Utilize 50 percent power instead of 100 percent to assistance prevent the meat from beginning to cook.[17]

    • Some microwaves have specific defrost settings. These settings automatically calculate how long to microwave the meat and at which power pct. Select the defrost setting on your microwave, if you have 1, and punch in the number of pounds being thawed.
  4. 4

    Check your meat every 45 seconds, especially later the commencement minute. Even with defrost settings, meat tends to defrost unevenly. It can aid to turn it over every 45 seconds, as well as bank check on how well it'due south defrosted.[eighteen]

    • Most microwaves have rotating turntables that continuously plough the contents of the microwave. If yours doesn't, even so, turn the plate every time y'all check on the beef.
  5. 5

    Determine whether or non the beef has defrosted enough past pressing on information technology. Beginning with clean hands. Press into the center of the mass to experience for spots that are all the same frozen solid. Remember to wash your easily again after touching raw meat.[19]

    • If necessary, split up the cake in half and feel the within of the meat for frozen spots, which will however be solid chunks.
  6. six

    Utilise your footing beef immediately. When thawing ground beefiness in the microwave, you lot should utilise it within two hours to be rubber, as information technology has warm spots that tin can grow bacteria. Put in the refrigerator if you programme to wait that long.[20]

    • Do not attempt to refreeze raw basis beef that has been defrosted in the microwave. Yous tin can, however, cook the beef and refreeze it afterward.

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Add New Question

  • Question

    What if at that place is a sour smell to the ground beef later thawing it?

    Community Answer

    Cheque the date or bank check for discoloration. There shouldn't be a sour smell if everything was handled properly. But it is better to be condom than sick , so throw information technology out if y'all have to question.

  • Question

    Tin can yous defrost footing beef with the packaging still on?

    Community Answer

    If you defrost in the microwave, no. If you are defrosting it in the fridge, remove information technology from the original packaging and place information technology in a bag with all the air removed.

  • Question

    Why not use hot h2o to thaw meat in a plastic handbag?

    Community Answer

    It is important to avoid using hot water straight in contact with whatsoever food due to the take a chance of legionella contamination. Also, plastic bags tin cook or may leach chemicals at high temperature.

  • Question

    How can I tell if my beef is good?

    Community Answer

    If its looks adept and doesn't smell, its practiced. If it was fresh before it was frozen it will be fine. The worst that can happen is freezer burn.

  • Question

    Tin can I defrost ground beef in a sink overnight?

    Community Answer

    No, because the ground beef will be infested with harmful bacteria--fifty-fifty if y'all submerge it in common cold h2o. If you want to defrost the ground beef overnight, place information technology in your fridge.

  • Question

    How far in advance should I have the meat out of the refrigerator if it hasn't been defrosted?

    Community Answer

    It depends on how frozen the beefiness is. It can have a few hours, or you might have to exit it out overnight. Usually people take it out in the morning to exist ready by dinner.

  • Question

    Can I use milk to defrost my basis beefiness?

    Community Answer

    No, as milk goes bad when left out for besides long.

  • Question

    Do I accept to cook the meat in burger course to use these methods?

    Community Answer

    No, you do non.

  • Question

    If I have a v pound package of footing beef, and I thaw it through the cold water method, can I cut a chunk off and refreeze it?

    Community Answer

    No. Don't e'er thaw something out and then refreeze it. This creates harmful leaner and you will get sick.

  • Question

    Is it ever advisable to plow the refrigerator temperature downwardly in society to defrost meat quicker, or go out information technology lower in case I desire to defrost meat?

    Community Answer

    No. Everything else in your refrigerator will be afflicted as well, which is a recipe for food-born illness. It's also non energy efficient to be raising and lowering your refrigerator temperature frequently.

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  • Consider cooking the meat directly from its frozen state or from a partially frozen state. If you lot're crumbling the beef and using it for tacos, skillet casseroles, or traditional casseroles, you can break the meat apart defrost and melt the beef at the same time. Simply be aware that your dish may take up to 50 pct longer to cook.[21]

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  • Do not attempt to defrost ground beef at room temperature. The ground beef will sit down out at temperatures betwixt 40 and threescore °F (4 and 16 °C) for likewise long, which is ideal for growing unsafe leaner.

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Things You'll Need

  • Tray, optional
  • Big bowl, optional
  • Cold water, optional
  • Resealable plastic bag, optional
  • Microwave-safety drinking glass dish, optional

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Article Summary 10

To defrost ground beef, start by taking it out of the packaging and placing information technology on a microwave-safe dish. So, microwave the beef at 50-percent power for 3 minutes per 1 pound of beef. Rotate and the beefiness every 45 seconds so it defrosts evenly. If it'southward taking a long time to defrost, try splitting it in half so information technology thaws faster. To learn how to defrost ground beefiness in the refrigerator or using common cold water, go on reading!

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Defrost-Ground-Beef

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