• Ground beef can exist safely defrosted in the fridge, a bowl of cold water, or in the microwave.
  • Defrosting in the microwave is the fastest option, simply then you must melt the beef correct away.
  • If yous thaw ground beef in the refrigerator, information technology is prophylactic to refreeze again.

If you lot, similar many other home cooks, proceed a supply of basis beef in the freezer, you're likely familiar with the defrosting process — which means you're probably too familiar with the frustration that comes with forgetting to take the beef out of the freezer ahead of fourth dimension.

Defrosting ground beef properly ensures you steer clear from potential harmful leaner. Dr. Darin Detwiler, a food regulatory expert and professor at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, says that "there volition never be an finish to pathogens in our food, but nosotros tin change the culture around the futurity of nutrient safety."

The next time you demand to bring your beef to room temperature, follow the methods below.

Method 1: In the fridge

"The safest way to defrost basis beef is to practise then in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours," Detwiler says. The refrigerator method is safest because it "keeps ground beef out of the danger zone, which refers to temperatures between 40 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, where pathogens and bacteria tin can abound."

Detwiler says the fridge keeps the meat safely cool and warms it enough to fully defrost, which is crucial for "cooking the meat thoroughly to a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, which is required to kill any remaining pathogens."

To defrost basis beef in the refrigerator, place the parcel of frozen ground beef on a plate that's large enough to catch any possible drippings from the meat as it defrosts. Side by side, place the plate on a low shelf in the refrigerator, which will help you "avoid the possibility of juices dripping onto other foods." The footing beefiness should remain in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours to fully defrost.

If you lot don't use all of the defrosted ground beef right away, Detwiler says that it'south prophylactic to shop the leftovers back in the freezer as long equally you practice and so within 48 hours of the original defrosting. Nonetheless, for extra safe insurance against pathogens and bacteria, Detwiler advises to melt the meat thoroughly before freezing information technology again.

Method 2: In cold water

You cannot refreeze raw ground beef if you defrosted information technology using the cold water method or the microwave method.
Oscar Wong/Getty Images

If you need to defrost your ground beef and don't have a full 24 hours to wait, you can defrost it in a bowl of common cold h2o. This method should have less than an hour, and information technology'south prophylactic every bit long equally the water is changed out as it warms to room temperature.

To defrost footing beef in common cold water, brand sure the beefiness is sealed in a leak-proof package, like a resealable plastic bag. "Set the plastic bag with the frozen meat in a sink or, preferably, in a big bowl, encompass with cold water, and weigh the package of meat downward with something heavy," Detwiler says. The weighing-down keeps the meat submerged, which is essential to go along the meat at a safety temperature for even defrosting.

Leave the package submerged in cold water for xx to 30 minutes. After that, you can "test" the meat'southward readiness by gently poking it with your fingers. If you feel ice crystals or stiffness, and so information technology needs more than fourth dimension (and a fresh round of cold water). In one case the meat is thawed, take it out of the water bowl and cook immediately.

Method iii: In the microwave

For the quickest possible defrosting method, you can defrost the footing beefiness in the microwave.  This method yields safe-to-eat ground beef, but with i major caveat: y'all have to cook information technology right away.

"Remove all packaging, so place the meat on a plate. Employ the microwave's defrost settings or set information technology at 50% power for two to three minutes, rotating and flipping the beef every xxx seconds, until information technology is fully thawed. Cook immediately and thoroughly to a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit," Detwiler says.

Ane important note: Yous shouldn't refreeze beefiness if yous thaw information technology in the microwave. Considering the meat is exposed to high temperatures (and has therefore spent time in the danger zone), stashing information technology in the fridge to melt afterwards isn't a safe motion, either. Salvage this method for when you're prepare to become cooking immediately.

What to avoid

To ensure the best quality and gustatory modality, utilise your frozen basis beef within iv months.
Claudia Totir/Getty Images
  • Never thaw ground beef at room temperature. "Some people get out frozen meat out on the counter to thaw and will exit it in that location for six to 8 hours, thinking that this volition definitely get the job washed. In reality, this allows it to get also warm and allows pathogens to abound," Detwiler says.
  • Never thaw ground beefiness using hot water. Just as thawing meat on the counter leaves it exposed to danger zone temps, so does thawing the meat in hot water.  The sudden shock of hot water on frozen meat will have negative effects on its texture, and as the water cools down, the meat becomes vulnerable to unsafe temperatures. Plus, the hot water could begin to "cook" the meat, which gives you a totally inconsistent block of ground beefiness that'due south partially cooked on the exterior and still frozen on the inside.
  • Don't proceed ground beefiness in the freezer for longer than iv months. It's tempting to assume that basis beef can exist kept in the freezer indefinitely. The USDA recommends using information technology within four months for the best quality, taste, and texture.

Insider'due south takeaway

Defrosting ground beef in the refrigerator is the safest choice, but it takes a total 24 hours. For faster results, submerge the frozen ground beefiness in common cold water for one hr. The quickest method is the microwave method, which will defrost the ground beef in just a few minutes, but you'll have to melt the meat immediately.

Taylor Tobin is a contributing writer for INSIDER and a Brooklyn-based writer roofing nutrient & drink, beauty, way, and popular civilisation. Past works tin can also be found at Observer, Brokelyn, and UrbanDaddy. She's a fan of bikes, books, and bourbon (not necessarily in that order).