How Long Does It Take 1lb of Ground Beef to Thaw in the Refrigerator
Photograph: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
The grill's fired up, the vino is perfectly chilled and you've been dreaming nearly sinking your teeth into a juicy burger all week. Only problem? You forgot to take the meat out of the freezer. Oops. Relax—you lot can notwithstanding save dinner. Here's how to thaw ground beef so information technology'south defrosted in time to devour.
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The all-time fashion to freeze basis beefiness
Here'south a nifty play a joke on, known as the apartment-pack freezing method, that will make adjacent week's taco dark and so much easier.
1. Earlier freezing, divvy up the ground beef into resealable bags. Use a scale to measure exactly half a pound per bag, if you're feeling fancy.
2. Using a rolling pin or your hand, gently flatten the patties then that they're approximately a ½-inch thick.
iii. Press out whatever backlog air, seal the pocketbook and that'due south it—no more freezer burn down, and it will defrost way faster. How fast? Keep reading.
If y'all have 2 hours (or days): Defrost in the fridge
The best manner to safely thaw ground beef is in the refrigerator, says the USDA. If you use the flat-pack freezing method, yous'll have ready-to-cook meat in just a couple of hours, whereas half a pound of ground beef in its original packing can take up to 12 hours to thaw.
one. Take the meat out of the freezer up to two days earlier you plan on cooking it. Put it on a plate and transfer it to the bottom shelf of your fridge.
two. In one case defrosted, cook the meat within two days.
If y'all have 30 minutes: Submerge in cold water
Basis beef that'south been frozen flat should thaw in most ten minutes, while denser hunks of meat will a fiddling take longer, most 30 minutes per half-pound.
1. Put the frozen meat in a leak-proof resealable bag (if it isn't already) and identify it in a bowl of cold water. Make sure it'south totally submerged.
2. In one case thawed, cook immediately.
If y'all take five minutes: Utilize the microwave
It's the speediest style to defrost basis beef and comes in clutch when y'all're pressed for time. Just remember that microwave wattages differ, then y'all may need more or less time for your beefiness to totally thaw.
1. Place the beefiness a microwave-safe, resealable pocketbook on a plate, leaving a small opening for steam to escape.
2. Use the defrost setting on your microwave to thaw the meat for three to 4 minutes. Plough the meat over halfway through.
3. Melt the ground beefiness immediately. Some may have started to cook while defrosting.
How long does frozen ground beef last?
Frozen ground beef is safety indefinitely, but loses its quality over time. For the sake of texture and flavor, frozen basis beefiness should be used inside four months of freezing. For all-time results, freeze ground beef as soon as yous bring it abode to preserve its freshness. If you're going to use the beef soon after you buy it, you can proceed it in the fridge instead. Use it inside a couple days, says the USDA.
Can I refreeze ground beef once it's thawed?
And then your beef is finally defrosted, but y'all've decided that you don't desire to make burgers later on all. No problem. Y'all can safely refreeze ground beef (or any meat, poultry or fish) that's been thawed in the fridge—only this is the only method where this works. Though this method requires a bit of foresight since it can take 24 to 48 hours, it's the safest at that place is and the just viable route if you finish up wanting to refreeze what you lot defrosted. Once thawed, ground beef or meat, stew meat, poultry and seafood are prophylactic to melt for another day or two. Roasts, chops and steaks of beef, pork or lamb will go on a bit longer, about iii to v days.
According to the USDA, whatever foods left outside the refrigerator for more than two hours or for more than 1 60 minutes in temperatures higher than 90°F shouldn't be refrozen. In other words, raw meat, poultry and fish can exist refrozen as long as they were thawed safely in the first place. Raw frozen appurtenances are also rubber to melt and refreeze, as well every bit previously frozen cooked foods. If y'all want to skip thawing altogether, meat, poultry or fish tin can be cooked or reheated from their frozen country. Just know it'll take about one and a half times as long to melt, and you lot may notice a divergence in quality or texture.
Ready to cook? Here are seven ground beef recipes we love.
- Classic Stuffed Peppers
- Beef Flatbread with Herb Sauce
- Ravioli Lasagna
- Beef Empanadas
- Cornbread Tamale Pie
- Swedish Meatballs
- Mini Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf
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Source: https://www.purewow.com/food/how-to-thaw-ground-beef