Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => The Knowledge => OT Knowledge => Topic started by: 1gear on 01 May, 2011, 05:44:58 pm

Title: In need of quick answer, beef and defrosting
Post by: 1gear on 01 May, 2011, 05:44:58 pm

I need to defrost some beef a bit quick, i forgot to take it out yesterday morning to defrost for today. I put it in the fridge this morning, taking it out from the freezer and its still not defrosted. No shop open to get some more, can i bang it in the microwave to defrost fully, even though its partly defrosted in the fridge already?

Title: Re: In need of quick answer, beef and defrosting
Post by: Euan Uzami on 01 May, 2011, 05:52:14 pm

I think you can. The only thing you don't want to do is re freeze it once it's been defrosted.
Put it on low power so it doesn't cook the outside.

Title: Re: In need of quick answer, beef and defrosting
Post by: Phil on 01 May, 2011, 05:54:43 pm

If it's still mostly frozen, you'll cook the outside before you get anywhere near thawing the middle.  If it's just a bit solid in the middle you should get away with it. Even on defrost mode you risk making it incredibly tough if you overdo it. 

The quickest way to thaw meat without damaging it is to put it, still packaged, in a basin of cold water, changing the water regularly.  It'll take a while though. 

Title: Re: In need of quick answer, beef and defrosting
Post by: Rapples on 01 May, 2011, 05:56:45 pm

I'd be tempted to put in a sink of hot water not boiling.  Depending on how big it is it should defrost quite quickly,(an hour) once it gets started it gets going quite quickly.

The worst that can happen is it'll be a little rare once cooked, tell your guests it's a French recipe ;)

Title: Re: In need of quick answer, beef and defrosting
Post by: David Martin on 01 May, 2011, 05:57:03 pm

What phil said. Though you can use coolish water rather than cold, and keeping it agitated helps. If it is in a vacuum pack, don't unpack it. If it is in a pack with lots of air/gas then unpack it and repack in a plastic bag from which you remove most of the air.

The big worry is bacterial spoilage.

..d

Title: Re: In need of quick answer, beef and defrosting
Post by: Polar Bear on 01 May, 2011, 06:29:33 pm

Definitely cold water, not hot and change regularly.

You cannot rush a defrost if you want the meat to be good when you've cooked it.

Title: Re: In need of quick answer, beef and defrosting
Post by: Rapples on 01 May, 2011, 06:32:52 pm

Quote from: Polar Bear on 01 May, 2011, 06:29:33 pm

You cannot rush a defrost if you want the meat to be good when you've cooked it.

Perhaps he should put it back in the fridge then :P

Title: Re: In need of quick answer, beef and defrosting
Post by: 1gear on 01 May, 2011, 06:33:47 pm

Shot out to Tesco Express and got some meat instead. Id read you had to be careful using a microwave and although its diced beef its all clumped together. My thoughts were that it would cook bits and the middle would still be frosty.
That shall do me tomorrow :thumbsup:

Cheers 8)

Title: Re: In need of quick answer, beef and defrosting
Post by: Valiant on 01 May, 2011, 11:09:45 pm

Should have got the cleaver out and chopped it into quaters and then defrosted in the microwave/sink.