Freezing and Defrosting Meat

Written by Doris Donnerman (last updated August 14, 2019)

2

Freezer burn can ruin event the best cuts of meat, but you can prevent freezer burn by storing your meat properly. Put your meat in plastic freezer bags as soon as you get it home from the store, and carefully press all the air out of each bag before storing it in the freezer. Frost is less likely to form on your meat without air in the bag.

Make sure to label everything you put in the freezer. Include the date you sealed it, the name of the food inside the bag, and how much is in each bag (1 pound, 1/2 cup, 100 grams, etc.). You can then find exactly what you're looking for, make sure you're using the oldest food first, and make bags with specific amounts so you can easily whip up a meal by defrosting a bag of pre-portioned meat.

Do your frozen fish fillets taste like they've been in your freezer since the ice age? Your fish will taste fresher if you place it in a dish of milk to thaw. The milk softens the flavor. Some people also use this trick for defrosting chicken.

A big problem with defrosting meat is knowing whether the center is thawed. The thin edges often thaw much more quickly than the thick middle. If your meat is still frozen in the middle, it will not cook evenly, and even worse, the cold center could harbor bacteria and give you food poisoning. That's where your microwave comes in. Microwaves heat from the inside out—which is bad for cooking a roast but is great for defrosting one. Use the "defrost" setting on your microwave and put your frozen meat in for about ten minutes per pound of meat. Be sure to turn the meat over regularly and rotate it for even thawing. If you don't have a defrost setting, check your microwave's manual for recommendations (cooking on half power, for example).

Only use the microwave to defrost meat that will be cooked immediately. If you aren't going to cook your meat right away, it is better to allow it to defrost in the refrigerator for several hours.

Author Bio

Doris Donnerman

Doris is a jack of all trades, writing on a variety of topics. Her articles have helped enlighten and entertain thousands over the years. ...

MORE FROM DORIS

Using Boxes to Organize Your Clutter

Boxes are what we often use to organize our cluttered lives. The only problem with this is that in an attempt to organize ...

Discover More

Don't Feed Your Cat Raw Eggs

Cats may eat many things, but there are just some things that your cat should never eat. Raw eggs are in that category, ...

Discover More

Welsh Terrier

Originating from Britain, the Welsh Terrier is very pure in breed. He is very spirited and eager to please.

Discover More
More Cooking Tips

Pepper Jack Stuffed Burgers

Who doesn't love a good cheeseburger? Juicy, grilled to perfection, and always welcome, cheeseburgers have long held a ...

Discover More

Moist Barbecue Brisket

While barbecue brisket is one of the more traditional fares offered at many barbecues, this isn't the only place that you ...

Discover More

Perfect Sunday Roast Dinner

Sunday dinners are delicious, and you need good Sunday dinner recipes on hand. Here is a recipe for a great roast that ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is two more than 7?

2016-03-29 06:13:11

Mariya Mehta

The microvave method is good to defrost a meat, and is is so simple just use defrost setting on your microwave and put your frozen meat in for about ten minutes per pound of meat
http://howtodefrostchicken.tumblr.com/


2016-03-25 02:20:19

Mariya Mehta

The microvave method is good to defrost a meat, and is is so simple just use defrost setting on your microwave and put your frozen meat in for about ten minutes per pound of meat