Although the ideal way to defrost meat requires some time, sometimes if we are not farsighted enough we can see ourselves in the need to have to defrost it quickly. Taking the food out of the freezer and letting it gradually warm up in the lower part (the least cold) of the fridge is always the safest and most advisable method of defrosting, but if you forgot to take it out of the freezer the night before, Do not panic! In OneHOWTO we tell you how to defrost meat quickly and we give you some tips so that you can achieve it without the food ending up spoiling.
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Microwave oven
Resorting to the microwave to thaw the meat that we need to prepare in the face of an unforeseen event is common and is a good option, as long as it is done correctly, preventing the food from thawing rather than ending up cooking in its own juices.
Currently, most microwaves have specific defrosting programs and it is important to use them when necessary, because they are an innovation designed to be able to defrost food evenly and without heating it up enough to cook it.
Even so, it is always a good idea to monitor the rapid thawing process of the meat , starting the microwave for just a few seconds ( no more than 30 seconds ), and then stopping it, turning the piece over and repeating the process. You may need to do it two or three times, but it will always be a better option than giving it 5 minutes in a row in the microwave, without checking how the piece of meat that we have introduced is thawing. The objective is to prevent the meat from being left with cooking areas along with others that are still frozen.
cold or lukewarm water
It is another very simple and effective little trick when it comes to defrosting meat quickly, especially if you have been careful to store it in not very large pieces . You just have to follow these steps:
- Put the piece in a plastic bag that you can close hermetically or by making a very firm knot.
- Remove excess air, so that the meat looks almost like it has been vacuum-preserved, and put the bag in a bowl with cold or lukewarm water .
- Leave the bag submerged for about 20 minutes .
- Change the water and repeat the operation . In this way, you will verify that in less than an hour you will have the meat almost at its point to be able to use it in the recipe you want.
- Take it out of the bag and prepare it immediately (do not refreeze it).
weight and heat
Although it sounds a bit strange, there is a way that works if you need to defrost meat quickly, but this trick is only intended to defrost pieces of meat that are not very fat , such as individually preserved beef steaks or, for example, some filleted chicken breasts. Follow these directions:
- The idea is to put the meat on a hard, flat surface (a cooking board, an upside down saucepan, or the counter itself). Spread out the frozen steak as much as you can.
- Take a pot of a certain size or weight and fill it with warm water .
- Place the pot on the piece of meat . The weight and the heat will affect the meat favoring its rapid defrosting without spoiling it.
Vinegar
There are also several solutions to defrost meat quickly that are based on the direct application of heat, but it must be remembered that this heat could favor the appearance of bacteria that could end up affecting the food. To avoid this, there is a very easy trick that takes this problem into account.
- Place warm water in a tray or bowl and add a small amount of mild vinegar (apple or white wine). Two or three small tablespoons is enough.
- Put the piece of frozen meat and let it soak for about 5 minutes , turning it a few times so that it is completely soaked.
- Take it out and let it finish defrosting on a plate, at room temperature.
- The vinegar will help stop the possible proliferation of bacteria and with its action, the defrosting time will be reduced significantly.
oil and spices
This is not a ‘miracle’ solution that can defrost meat in a matter of minutes, but for certain types of recipes, this tip can come in handy. If you have frozen meat in small pieces , for example, to make a stew or stew, you can defrost it faster if you add an oil-based seasoning that makes it easier for the pieces to fall off.
- Prepare an olive oil dressing with a touch of salt, pepper and your favorite spices (oregano, thyme, parsley…).
- Brush the pieces of frozen meat well with a little of this olive oil dressing.
- Wait a few minutes, this will allow you to defrost the meat in less time and, furthermore, as the pieces of meat loosen and defrost, they will take on all the aroma and flavor of the marinade you have prepared.
Now that you’ve learned 5 ways to defrost meat fast, we recommend reading these other articles if you’ve specifically thought about defrosting chicken or turkey: How to Defrost Chicken and How to Defrost a Turkey .