Need to defrost your meat quickly, but don’t know the fastest way that won’t harm your health? The best method is to thaw the meat in the refrigerator. But this can take several hours, although it is the healthiest way. But if you need beef or poultry to be used as soon as possible, you can choose one of the methods recommended by Pennsylvania State University.
The first method is defrosting in cold water
This method is very simple. Wrap the meat in a food bag and place it in a container of cold water. Change the water every thirty minutes. If you don’t have the option of a container, you can also thaw the meat under a stream of running water. But never defrost meat in warm or even hot water.
The food would get an unpleasant smell and also dangerous bacteria can multiply. The advantage of this method is the speed with which you thaw the meat. It is also safe as far as our health is concerned. The meat is not exposed to high temperatures, and it will not create an environment that encourages rapid bacterial growth. This way you can defrost half a kilo of meat in about an hour.
The disadvantage of this method is that you have to change the water regularly. If you keep the meat under running water, this is not an economical solution. Always make sure you keep the meat tightly sealed in a bag to prevent water from getting to it.
Another way is to defrost in the microwave
If you have a microwave at home, you can put the meat to be defrosted in it. Then all you have to do is set the appropriate program to get your meat thawed. The signal on the oven should beep when the meat is ready. Some microwave ovens already have a program specifically for defrosting.
This is the fastest method that doesn’t require much attention. Meat after thawing in the microwave can be boiled, roasted or fried. The disadvantage of this method is that the meat can become heated, which can cause bacteria to multiply. You should also carefully choose the dish or container in which you will defrost the meat. Some products can melt or produce chemicals that are harmful to health.
You should know that once thawed, meat should never be frozen again. This is because it is the best way to catch salmonella. Freezing meat is the best way to preserve it for a longer period of time. As well as meat, mushrooms can also be frozen, and many people also buy bread or butter to stock up on.