Defrosting Round Steak Mince

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Douzer77

Senior Cook
Joined
Feb 15, 2008
Messages
166
Location
Ireland
Following on from previous chastisements over my defrosting methods (in my defence i have never made any body ill ;)). I have a pound of round steak to defrost for tonights dinner. (now 10.45 am in Ireland). So what i now intend doing is leaving the mince in the plastic bag it was frozen in, putting this into a bowel of cold water and covering with a plate!

Is this ok? Will it defrost in 7/8 hours?
should i remove the plastic bag? would this not make the mince watery?
 
I would not take it out of the plastic bag. I would also change the water several times so that a temperature differential is maintained.

I normally put my on the microwave defrost setting for 350g of meat and then put it in the fridge. It is also cold here today, so, with no heating on, I may have put it into a cool part of the utility room.
 
Only ever tried defrosting the the microwave once, chicken breasts, and they started to cook so bunged them in the bin and went to the butcher! Haven't been brave enough to do it since. Reckon i have plenty of time as if i had left it out on the counter top it would have well defrosted in the couple of hours and have been assured here previosly that my chicken would have defrosted quicker (and safer) in the water i am presuming the same will hold true for the mince meat. And there's always the chinese for tonight dinner if it hasn't defrosted in time! ;)

Glad you agree with me on the keeping it in the plastic bag!

Blooming cold here in Ireland too this morning!
 
Bad advice, but I just set mine on the counter and keep checking it. Breaking apart in bag when I can. Then finish in fridge.
 
The bag in cold waer will do the trick fairly quickly. You must ensure there is no airspace in the plastic bag as that will act as an insulator and slow down the thawing process a great deal.

Another way to go is to place the packet of meat into a heavy aluminum pot or pan and let the metal warm it up. Turn the meat occasionally.
 
Cold water is a great way to go. It will not take very long though. For a pound of meat it might take an hour max. Probably closer to a half hour. Like Andy said though, make sure there are no air pockets.

You do not want to remove the meat from the bag first. The meat will get really gross if it is soaking directly in the water.
 
The key is to change the water occasionally. I don't put a "lid" of any kind on top as it will keep the "cold" in. Normally I just put a bowl in the sink, occasionally running new water in it, which displaces the water that is now too cold. In an hour or less it's thawed. THEN, I put in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Also, if you carefully place the round patties in the bag so they are 1 or 2 layers thick the defrosting is much quicker.
 
Well i have an update!

It went into the water at 10.45 am and was completely defrosted by 16.45. Is now in all our tums in the guise of Spagettie bol.

There were definately airpockets in the bag so this may have added to the defrosting time.

Another quick question, I work 3 full days and if i was to leave something defrosting for the day in water would that be safe enough or do you have to change the water to keep the temp safe?
 
If you have to defrost for 3 days just leave it in the refrigerator as is. It also depends on what you are defrosting i.e., a whole turkey or a pound of hamburger.

Your meat for your spaghetti - did you change the water or just leave it in the same water?
 
i changed the water a couple of times today. The largest thing i would be defrosting would be a chicken. Nothing ever as big as a turkey as would buy this fresh as wouldn't sarcrifice the space in my freezer for anything bigger than a chicken!
 
A chicken should defrost in 3 days. On the 3rd day do the water method if not fully defrosted. Don't do the water method on the 1st day.
 
There is no way in this world that i know what i'll be eating in 3 days time!!!! Other than a Tuesday which is bangers and mash day! - sausages with baked beans mixed into mashed potatoes.:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO: My 6 year old MOST FAVOURITE meal in the whole wide world!

If i'm home all day is it safe enough to defost the chicken in water changing the water every hour?
 
There is no way in this world that i know what i'll be eating in 3 days time!!!! Other than a Tuesday which is bangers and mash day! - sausages with baked beans mixed into mashed potatoes.:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO: My 6 year old MOST FAVOURITE meal in the whole wide world!

If i'm home all day is it safe enough to defost the chicken in water changing the water every hour?

Got it!!! Yes, that is quite safe! What I normally do is fill one part of my sink with water and leave it there for a few hours, changing every hour or so until defrosted.
 
For frozen chicken, I put the chicken onto a large bowl or pot. I place the bowl in the sink and fill it with cold water then set to faucet to a trickle and let that run into the back side of the bowl. That way the water is constantl changing.
 
There is no way in this world that i know what i'll be eating in 3 days time!!!! Other than a Tuesday which is bangers and mash day! - sausages with baked beans mixed into mashed potatoes.:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO: My 6 year old MOST FAVOURITE meal in the whole wide world!

?

Douzer: I know what you'll be eating in 3 days time; You'll be eating chicken. Right?
 

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