Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Defrost minced meat in the refrigerator
• Method 2 of 3: Use cold water
• Method 3 of 3: Using a microwave
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Ground beef tastes great in dishes, but if you have a block of frozen ground beef you will need to defrost it to make it easier to cook. If you want to defrost minced meat, you actually have three options. Thawing minced meat in the refrigerator is ideal because the meat is kept at a safe temperature all the time. You can even refreeze the ground beef after using this method. Use cold water or the microwave to defrost the meat more quickly and then prepare it immediately.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Defrost minced meat in the refrigerator

1. Schedule 1-24 hours to let the meat thaw completely. If you have frozen the ground beef yourself in thin blocks less than 2 inches thick, you can thaw the ground beef in the refrigerator within an hour. Otherwise, allow 24 hours for every 500 grams of ground beef in the package.
   • Remember, the colder your refrigerator, the longer it will take to defrost the ground beef. Minced meat thaws faster in a refrigerator with a temperature of 4 ° C than in a refrigerator with a temperature of 2 ° C.
2. Use the ground beef within 1 to 2 days. Thawing minced meat in the refrigerator is the slowest method, but also the safest because the minced meat is kept cold at the same temperature. If you defrost the ground beef in this way, you can keep it in the refrigerator for another 24 to 48 hours after defrosting.
   • You can also refreeze the ground beef if you thaw it this way. If you decide not to defrost the ground beef, put it back in the freezer within 24 to 48 hours after it has thawed.

Method 2 of 3: Use cold water

1. Allow an hour of defrosting time per 500 grams of minced meat. Start at least an hour before you need the ground beef. That way you can be sure you have enough time to let the meat thaw.
   • Keep in mind that it will take longer to thaw a larger package of ground beef. It can take 2 to 3 hours for a package containing 1.5 to 2 kilos of ground beef to thaw.
   • Very thin blocks (1.5 centimeters or thinner) can be thawed within 10-20 minutes.
2. Use the ground beef immediately. To prevent bacteria from growing, use minced meat thawed in this way within 2 hours. If you are going to wait 2 hours, put the ground beef in the fridge for 2 hours when it is thawed.
   • Do not re-freeze ground beef that you thawed in cold water, as it is more likely to grow bacteria. If you cannot use the ground beef within 2 hours after it has thawed, it is best to bake it before freezing it again.

Method 3 of 3: Using a microwave

1. Use the ground beef immediately. If you thaw ground beef in the microwave, use it within 2 hours to be safe. It has warm places where bacteria can grow. If you plan to wait 2 hours, put the ground beef in the fridge.
   • Do not try to refreeze raw ground beef that has been thawed in the microwave. You can bake the minced meat and then freeze it again.

Tips

• You can already bake the minced meat if it is still frozen or partially frozen. If you crumble the ground beef and use it for tacos, stews or casseroles, you can break, defrost and bake the meat at the same time. Keep in mind that it can then take 1.5 times longer for the dish to be ready.

Warnings

• Do not try to defrost ground beef at room temperature. The minced meat then remains for too long at a temperature of between 4 and 16 ° C, which is an ideal environment for bacteria to grow in.

Necessities

• Scale
• Big bowl
• Cold water
• Resealable plastic bag
• Microwave-safe glass bowl