topic Re: Thawing Meat, What? in Kitchen

Thawing Meat, What?

Icegoddess — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 01:42:59 GMT

Most of my adult life I have heard that for safety reasons you should always thaw your meat in the refrigerator. Now, full disclosure, I don't do that, but that's just what I've always heard. Now, I just heard Mr. Rastelli say he thaws those TSV steaks on the counter. I was surprised to hear that coming from a meat expert.

I do know you want meat to come to room temp before cooking, but that is for better results cooking, not safety. I do try to do that, but often forget until it is too late, like last night.

Re: Thawing Meat, What?

Foxxee — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 05:06:49 GMT

I always thaw meat on the counter since it takes too long in the refrigerator, but I don't let it reach room temperature. I return it to the refrigerator when it's still cold. I don't ever let it reach room temperature before cooking.

No one in my family became ill from doing it this way.

Re: Thawing Meat, What?

Kachina624 — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 02:19:05 GMT

I always thaw beef in the sink, then refrigerate or cook it as soon as it has thawed while is still cool. I try to thaw poultry in the fridge but often stick it in the micro to thaw then immediately cook it.

Re: Thawing Meat, What?

spent2much — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 02:23:29 GMT

I also thaw everything on the counter - always have (51 years)!

Re: Thawing Meat, What?

OutofMadison — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 02:24:12 GMT

I can't remember where I found this but I use cold water bath - I just use a large bowl with tap water and put the meat in it. The meat does not have to be totally covered with water - I just make sure I move it around as it defrots (make sure the meat is in a waterproof bag of some sort).

Re: Thawing Meat, What?

tansy — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 03:11:07 GMT

I thaw meat on an aluminum cookie sheet. It usually only takes a couple of hours and then I refrigerate it until I am ready to cook it.

Re: Thawing Meat, What?

loriqvc — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 03:48:56 GMT

@Icegoddess - I'm sure you'll get all kinds of responses here, and you can certainly find all kinds more by searching the web, but one thing that differentiates the Rastelli steaks a bit in this case is the fact that they are individually vacuum sealed. That helps to keep them fresher longer if you thaw at room temperature rather than in the fridge.

Re: Thawing Meat, What?

January121 — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 05:03:56 GMT

I usually thaw meat in the refrigerator then take it out until it gets to room temperature then cook 👨‍🍳

Re: Thawing Meat, What?

froggy — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 05:11:27 GMT

@Foxxee wrote:
I always thaw meat on the counter since it takes too long in the refrigerator, but I don't let it reach room temperature. I return it to the refrigerator when it's still cold. I don't ever let it reach room temperature before cooking.

No one in my family became ill from doing it this way.

Same here. I don't want to have to plan my meals two or more days in advance in order to thaw in the fridge.

Re: Thawing Meat, What?

Icegoddess — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 05:18:38 GMT

@froggy wrote:
@Foxxee wrote:
I always thaw meat on the counter since it takes too long in the refrigerator, but I don't let it reach room temperature. I return it to the refrigerator when it's still cold. I don't ever let it reach room temperature before cooking.

No one in my family became ill from doing it this way.
Same here. I don't want to have to plan my meals two or more days in advance in order to thaw in the fridge.

@froggy that's me. I don't plan my meals ahead. I just know I had heard more than once that it wasn't a safe practice, but I do it anyways.

Re: Thawing Meat, What?

Flatbush — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 07:59:07 GMT

I usually thaw the meat on the counter and then put it in the refrigerator.

If I am using the crock pot, I thaw it the previous day in the refrigerator and then put the meat in the microwave for a short time. I never microwave it til it is warm tho. Then I place in the microwave.

Re: Thawing Meat, What?

haddon9 — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 09:50:54 GMT

@Foxxee wrote:
I always thaw meat on the counter since it takes too long in the refrigerator, but I don't let it reach room temperature. I return it to the refrigerator when it's still cold. I don't ever let it reach room temperature before cooking.

No one in my family became ill from doing it this way.

This is what I always do too.

Re: Thawing Meat, What?

AngelPuppy1 — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 12:29:02 GMT

My mother always kept it in the fridge to thaw out, never left it out. So, I always did the same. DH does most of the cooking now and he leaves it on the counter and this makes me nervous. We have not gotten sick -- yet!

Re: Thawing Meat, What?

Harpa — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 12:55:37 GMT

I try to thaw in the refrigerator, sometimes 2 days ahead of time if it's a large package.

If pressed for time, I'll thaw on the counter for an hour but then into the refrigerator.

Yes, I've heard many a [TV] chef say to bring meats to room temp before preparing. I do not always do that.

In "serious" baking, I always bring eggs to room temp.

It's probably more important to wash up properly afterward.

Re: Thawing Meat, What?

shaggygirl — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 13:56:37 GMT

I have a pound of frozen ground beef in a freezer bag sitting in my dish drainer to thaw as I type this. Why my dish drainer? I dunno, that's just where I decided to put it.

Re: Thawing Meat, What?

shoptilyadropagain — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 13:57:59 GMT

I always thaw it in the fridge. I've got hamburger in there now to make a meatloaf on Saturday.

Re: Thawing Meat, What?

depglass — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 15:22:52 GMT

I'm surprised some of you Food Network watching Foodies haven't posted Alton Brown's method. Put meat in plastic bag and immerse in cold, not warm, water. Turn occasionally, it only takes a couple hours and is safer. He has proved scientifically that cold water works better than hot. Maybe no one watches Food Network anymore?

Re: Thawing Meat, What?

SeaGal — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 16:41:07 GMT

@tansy wrote:
I thaw meat on an aluminum cookie sheet. It usually only takes a couple of hours and then I refrigerate it until I am ready to cook it.

Hi @tansy , I read long ago that thawing on some sort of metal platter like a cookie sheet speads up the thawing time and I agree, I have done it this way for years.

Re: Thawing Meat, What?

Icegoddess — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 16:52:12 GMT

@depglass wrote:
I'm surprised some of you Food Network watching Foodies haven't posted Alton Brown's method. Put meat in plastic bag and immerse in cold, not warm, water. Turn occasionally, it only takes a couple hours and is safer. He has proved scientifically that cold water works better than hot. Maybe no one watches Food Network anymore?

@depglass Someone did mention thawing in water. I don't think they specified cold water, but I do remember this method. I sometimes do this if I'm trying to speed up the process.

Re: Thawing Meat, What?

suzyQ3 — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 17:12:50 GMT

It really is not the best idea to thaw meat or poultry on the counter. We either put it in the fridge the night before (and if for some reason it isn't totally thawed at cooking time, we defrost in the microwave for a small amount of time) or use the cold bath method. Yes, the water should be very cold.