Seasoned Advice
Seasoned Advice

Questions tagged [defrosting]

136 questions
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10 answers

Is there a problem with defrosting meat on the counter?

I generally defrost meat on the kitchen counter. A friend of mine suggested that this was dangerous and suggested that I defrost meat in the refrigerator. I am no biologist but it seems to me that as long as the meat doesn't get warm defrosting it…
ahsteele
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How to quickly and safely defrost chicken?

What is the safest, quick way to defrost chicken? Microwave? Running water over it?
Smashery
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How does a Miracle Thaw work?

Miracle Thaws are utensils for rapidly thawing foods. Put an ice cube on one and it melts before your eyes, yet the whole thing stays cool to the touch. How do they work? (Inspired by this question: Utensil to thaw meat)
pabo
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I need to quickly and safely thaw frozen ground beef, what are my options?

Since reading the answers to my question about defrosting meat on the counter I've been good about giving my meat time to defrost in the refrigerator. However, my plans for tonight have changed and I'd like to defrost some ground beef that is…
ahsteele
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Why is expired frozen chicken safe to eat?

It seems to be a widely held belief that that freezing chicken, and then defrosting, cooking, and eating it much later (well past the expiration date) is a perfectly fine thing to do. What makes it safe? And are there any food safety hazards to…
Ana
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Can meat freeze from the inside out?

We received a turkey recently which was meant to be 'fresh'. When it arrived it was frozen on the inside. We are told that the fridge was probably set a bit low so the turkey froze on the inside. I'm not rocket surgeon, but I would have thought…
Mr. Flibble
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How to defrost frozen pizza dough quickly?

Obviously, best practice for defrosting it to leave the pizza dough on the counter or in the fridge overnight, then let it rise before cooking it. However, I've got company coming tonight, and I forgot to defrost the dough last night. (It's…
Goodbye Stack Exchange
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Can I thaw salmon directly in water?

Some websites suggest putting salmon in a bag before thawing in cold water. Is it safe to omit the bagging, and instead thaw directly in water? (If not, why?)
Asker
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Should one - moreover can one - defrost a frozen lasagna before cooking?

So I purchased one of these "frozen lasagna" products at the supermarket to see what it's all about. It was in the supermarket freezer and indeed I am keeping it in the freezer of my fridge. (I.E., it's frozen solid when I took the pic just…
Fattie
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How do you properly defrost frozen fish?

I recently bought a package of frozen cod that contains about 6 pieces. How do you go about properly defrosting them? Thanks.
duchessofstokesay
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Why would IQF shrimp say "do not force thaw under running water"?

I recently made a recipe that called for thawing frozen shrimp by running them under cold water. However, I noticed that the IQF tail-on shrimp I buy from Costco state, "DO NOT FORCE THAW UNDER RUNNING WATER". Why might they add this capitalized…
Jeff Axelrod
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How do I choose frozen fish so that it doesn't release so much water?

I bought a package of frozen, individually wrapped, vacuum-sealed pacific cod fillets (about 150-200 grams each) from what I thought was a reputable brand (and not the lowest price) in my nearest supermarket, and attempted to pan-fry it. I defrosted…
Calimo
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What is it in frozen food that makes chefs so mad?

Gordon Ramsay's number two complaint (we know the first...) is that the food was frozen. But I am confused about the specifics. Does he mean the meat was not thawed before cooking? Does he mean that after being placed in a freezer meat cannot be…
Bar Akiva
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Is a longer defrost better than microwave defrosting?

I was taught the idea that if you let frozen meat thaw out over night then it is better for the end product that defrosting it in the microwave? Does this have merit or is it just an old wives tale? Also does cooking frozen meat effect the taste or…
Neil Meyer
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Utensil to thaw meat

A very long time ago, I was at a friend's house where her father took out this piece of ribbed metal from the cupboard. It was a dark piece of metal about the size of an adult hand. It had grooves on one side, and was smooth/flat on the other. He…
Burhan Khalid
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