Thaw a Pound of Ground Beef

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Were you all ready to grill the burger of a lifetime, simply the solid brick of ground beefiness 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 button back the start fourth dimension of your meal, the safest manner to defrost ground beef is in the fridge. But, if y'all're in a pinch, the microwave and a bowl of cold water are speedy and efficient ways to defrost mr. beef. We'll brand sure y'all avoid bacteria and follow USDA-approved methods to go that beef prepare for action.

1. 1

   Plan ahead 1-24 hours to thaw your meat completely. If you freeze your ground beef yourself in thin packages (under 2 inches (v.ane cm) thick), you can thaw ground beefiness in the refrigerator in under an 60 minutes.^[ane] Otherwise, plan for 24 hours for every 1 pound (450 g) of ground beefiness in the parcel.^[2]

   • Go along in mind that the colder you keep your fridge, the longer the defrost fourth dimension will be. Basis beefiness volition thaw quicker in a fridge kept at forty °F (4 °C) than it will in i kept at 35 °F (two °C).

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

   • The beefiness doesn't need to be covered, other than past its own packaging.

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3. three

   Refrigerate the beef on a lower shelf. Find a place toward the dorsum of your fridge to place the package of footing beef. A lower shelf is a good idea, because there'southward less of a risk of the beef dripping on something beneath it.^[iv]

   • Placing the beefiness near the back of the fridge ensures information technology stays at a steady temperature.

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   Check the footing beefiness before you use it. With make clean easily, gently press downwards on the basis beef through its package. If you are able to get out an indentation in the center of the beef, nearly of it will be defrosted enough to use.^[5]

   • To check further, break the bulk of ground beef in half and press into the middle. If the meat is soft enough to press, it is thawed all the way through. If parts of the beef nonetheless seem solid, it is not completely defrosted.
   • If necessary, you can finish up the defrosting process in the microwave.

5. 5

   Use the beef within 1 or 2 days. Defrosting basis beefiness in the refrigerator is the slowest method, but it'due south also the safest, as the beefiness is kept at a steady, cold temperature. When defrosted this style, you can keep the ground beef in the refrigerator for an additional 24 to 48 hours after thawing.^[6]

   • Yous can likewise refreeze the ground beefiness if y'all thaw it this fashion. If you decide not to use the ground beefiness afterward all, stick it back in the freezer within 24 to 48 hours of defrosting it.

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1. 1

   Plan on 60 minutes per i pound (450 g) of ground beef for thawing. Start at least an hour ahead of when you demand your ground beef. That manner, you'll be sure you accept enough fourth dimension to thaw your meat.^[seven]

   • Proceed in mind that a larger package will take longer. A package that is 3 to four pounds (1,400 to one,800 g) can take 2-3 hours.^[8]
   • Very thin packages (0.5 inches (1.3 cm) or less) may thaw in as picayune every bit 10-20 minutes.^[nine]

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   Secure the ground beef inside a resealable plastic handbag. Identify the bundle of ground beef inside a leak-proof plastic bag. Seal information technology up equally securely every bit possible by zipping the pocketbook shut.^[x]

   • If the bag leaks, bacteria can get to your nutrient. Plus, you may end up with watery ground beef if it absorbs too much water.

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   Submerge the beef in common cold tap water. Identify the wrapped package of basis beef in a large bowl or dish and cover information technology with cold tap h2o. Brand sure that the beefiness is completely underwater. Leave the dish of h2o and the beef out on the counter as it defrosts.^[11]

   • Only use cold water. Hot, warm, or even room temperature water tin create a breeding ground for leaner. If your tap h2o is as well warm, add an water ice cube or ii to cool it down a little.
   • You could also fill a clean sink with cold h2o and submerge your beef in that. But make sure that the plug has a tight seal and that the sink is clean before you lot start.

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   Modify the h2o every 30 minutes. Bleed the old water and refill the bowl with clean, common cold water. This process allows the meat to keep defrosting while preventing the h2o from gathering likewise much leaner.^[12]

   • Plus, you ensure the water stays cool. Go along calculation one-2 water ice cubes if your water is too warm.

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   Check to see if the beefiness is thawed after an 60 minutes. Press on the basis beefiness bundle with clean fingers. Once it is soft plenty to press, the majority of the basis beef is thawed.^[13]

   • Break the block of footing beef open up and printing the eye of the within. If it is however hard, the center of the beefiness is nonetheless frozen.

6. 6

   Employ the ground beefiness immediately. In order to prevent bacteria from growing, you need to use ground beef thawed in this manner within 2 hours. If you are going to look two hours, stick it in the refrigerator for that period after it's thawed.^[fourteen]

   • Do not refreeze basis beef that you thawed in common cold water, as information technology is more probable to abound bacteria. If you cannot utilise information technology within ii hours of defrosting it, your best option is to cook it before refreezing information technology.

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1. 

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   Take the beef out of its packaging. It'southward non a good thought to thaw ground beefiness in its packaging, as you don't know if it's microwave safe. Some tubes even have metal ties on the ends which can spark in your microwave.^[15]

   • Since this is a quick method, you tin can do information technology correct before starting dinner. Y'all practice not need to worry every bit much virtually starting the defrosting process in advance.
   • Prying the ground beefiness out of the package can be difficult if it is fully frozen and sitting on a styrofoam tray. If you lot have difficulty removing the beef from its backing, identify the beef inside a resealable plastic bag, and nil it closed. Rinse the tray side of the beefiness nether common cold running tap water until it loosens enough to remove.

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   Identify the beef in a microwave-safe glass dish. Gear up the raw beef into the dish. Make certain the dish has sides loftier enough to prevent any spills from defrosted juice. Cover the dish with a lid or some other dish.^[xvi]

3. three

   Microwave the beef at 50 per centum power. Aim for 3 minutes per 1 pound (450 m) of basis beef. Use l percent power instead of 100 percent to assistance prevent the meat from kickoff to cook.^[17]

   • Some microwaves have specific defrost settings. These settings automatically calculate how long to microwave the meat and at which ability percentage. Select the defrost setting on your microwave, if you have one, and punch in the number of pounds existence thawed.

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   iv

   Check your meat every 45 seconds, peculiarly afterward the first minute. Even with defrost settings, meat tends to defrost unevenly. It tin can help to turn it over every 45 seconds, also as bank check on how well it'south defrosted.^[xviii]

   • Most microwaves have rotating turntables that continuously turn the contents of the microwave. If yours doesn't, yet, plow the plate every time you bank check on the beef.

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   Determine whether or not the beef has defrosted plenty by pressing on it. Start with clean hands. Press into the middle of the mass to feel for spots that are nonetheless frozen solid. Recall to wash your hands once more after touching raw meat.^[19]

   • If necessary, split the cake in half and feel the inside of the meat for frozen spots, which will still be solid chunks.

6. half dozen

   Use your footing beef immediately. When thawing footing beefiness in the microwave, yous should use it within 2 hours to be safe, as it has warm spots that can abound bacteria. Put in the fridge if you program to look that long.^[xx]

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

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Add New Question

• Question

  What if there is a sour smell to the basis beef after thawing it?

  

  Check the date or cheque for discoloration. There shouldn't be a sour odour if everything was handled properly. But information technology is ameliorate to be rubber than sick , then throw information technology out if you take to question.

• Question

  Can you defrost ground beef with the packaging nonetheless on?

  

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

• Question

  Why non utilize hot water to thaw meat in a plastic bag?

  

  It is important to avert using hot water straight in contact with any food due to the risk of legionella contamination. As well, plastic bags can melt or may leach chemicals at high temperature.

• Question

  How can I tell if my beef is practiced?

  

  If its looks skilful and doesn't olfactory property, its proficient. If it was fresh before it was frozen information technology will be fine. The worst that tin can happen is freezer burn.

• Question

  Can I defrost ground beef in a sink overnight?

  

  No, because the footing beef will be infested with harmful bacteria--fifty-fifty if you submerge it in cold water. If you desire to defrost the ground beef overnight, place it in your refrigerator.

• Question

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

  

  It depends on how frozen the beef is. It can have a few hours, or you might have to exit information technology out overnight. Usually people accept information technology out in the morning to be ready by dinner.

• Question

  Can I use milk to defrost my ground beef?

  

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

• Question

  Exercise I have to cook the meat in burger form to apply these methods?

  

  No, you do non.

• Question

  If I have a 5 pound package of basis beef, and I thaw it through the cold water method, can I cutting a chunk off and refreeze it?

  

  No. Don't e'er thaw something out and then refreeze it. This creates harmful bacteria and yous will get ill.

• Question

  Is information technology ever advisable to plough the refrigerator temperature downwards in lodge to defrost meat quicker, or exit it lower in case I want to defrost meat?

  

  No. Everything else in your refrigerator will be affected as well, which is a recipe for food-born affliction. Information technology's likewise not energy efficient to be raising and lowering your refrigerator temperature oftentimes.

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• Consider cooking the meat directly from its frozen state or from a partially frozen state. If you're crumbling the beef and using it for tacos, skillet casseroles, or traditional casseroles, you can pause the meat autonomously defrost and melt the beef at the same time. Just be aware that your dish may take up to l per centum longer to cook.^[21]

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• Exercise not attempt to defrost ground beefiness at room temperature. The ground beef will sit out at temperatures between 40 and 60 °F (four and 16 °C) for as well long, which is ideal for growing unsafe bacteria.

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Things You'll Need

• Tray, optional
• Large basin, optional
• Cold water, optional
• Resealable plastic handbag, optional
• Microwave-safe glass dish, optional

About This Article

Commodity Summary X

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

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