• Ground beef tin can be safely defrosted in the refrigerator, a bowl of cold water, or in the microwave.
  • Defrosting in the microwave is the fastest selection, but then you lot must cook the beefiness right away.
  • If you thaw basis beef in the refrigerator, information technology is prophylactic to refreeze over again.

If you, like many other home cooks, keep a supply of ground beef in the freezer, y'all're probable familiar with the defrosting process — which means yous're probably also familiar with the frustration that comes with forgetting to accept the beefiness out of the freezer ahead of fourth dimension.

Defrosting ground beef properly ensures you steer articulate from potential harmful bacteria. Dr. Darin Detwiler, a nutrient regulatory expert and professor at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, says that "there will never be an end to pathogens in our food, but we can alter the culture around the time to come of food safety."

The next fourth dimension you need to bring your beef to room temperature, follow the methods below.

Method 1: In the fridge

"The safest manner to defrost basis beef is to do so 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 forty degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, where pathogens and leaner can abound."

Detwiler says the fridge keeps the meat safely cool and warms information technology plenty to fully defrost, which is crucial for "cooking the meat thoroughly to a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, which is required to impale whatsoever remaining pathogens."

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

If you don't apply all of the defrosted footing beef correct abroad, Detwiler says that it's safety to store the leftovers dorsum in the freezer as long as you exercise so inside 48 hours of the original defrosting. Even so, for extra safe insurance against pathogens and leaner, Detwiler advises to cook the meat thoroughly earlier freezing it over again.

Method 2: In cold water

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

If y'all demand to defrost your basis beef and don't have a total 24 hours to expect, y'all can defrost it in a bowl of cold water. This method should take less than an 60 minutes, and information technology's prophylactic as long as the water is changed out as it warms to room temperature.

To defrost basis beefiness in cold water, make certain the beef is sealed in a leak-proof parcel, like a resealable plastic handbag. "Set the plastic pocketbook with the frozen meat in a sink or, preferably, in a large basin, cover with cold water, and weigh the package of meat down with something heavy," Detwiler says. The weighing-down keeps the meat submerged, which is essential to keep the meat at a rubber temperature for even defrosting.

Leave the packet submerged in cold water for 20 to 30 minutes. After that, you lot can "test" the meat's readiness by gently poking information technology with your fingers. If you experience water ice crystals or stiffness, then it needs more fourth dimension (and a fresh round of cold water). In one case the meat is thawed, take information technology out of the h2o bowl and cook immediately.

Method 3: In the microwave

For the quickest possible defrosting method, you lot can defrost the ground beef in the microwave.  This method yields safe-to-swallow ground beef, but with i major caveat: you accept to cook it right away.

"Remove all packaging, and then identify the meat on a plate. Use the microwave's defrost settings or set up information technology at 50% power for 2 to 3 minutes, rotating and flipping the beef every 30 seconds, until it is fully thawed. Melt immediately and thoroughly to a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit," Detwiler says.

One of import note: Y'all shouldn't refreeze beef if yous thaw it in the microwave. Because the meat is exposed to loftier temperatures (and has therefore spent fourth dimension in the danger zone), stashing information technology in the fridge to cook later isn't a safety move, either. Save this method for when you're ready to get cooking immediately.

What to avert

To ensure the all-time quality and taste, use your frozen footing beefiness within iv months.
Claudia Totir/Getty Images
  • Never thaw ground beefiness at room temperature. "Some people leave frozen meat out on the counter to thaw and will leave it there for six to eight hours, thinking that this volition definitely get the job done. In reality, this allows it to go likewise warm and allows pathogens to grow," Detwiler says.
  • Never thaw ground beefiness using hot water. Just as thawing meat on the counter leaves it exposed to danger zone temps, and so does thawing the meat in hot water.  The sudden shock of hot water on frozen meat will have negative furnishings on its texture, and as the water cools down, the meat becomes vulnerable to unsafe temperatures. Plus, the hot water could brainstorm to "cook" the meat, which gives yous a totally inconsistent cake of basis beef that'due south partially cooked on the exterior and withal frozen on the inside.
  • Don't keep ground beef in the freezer for longer than iv months. It's tempting to presume that footing beef can be kept in the freezer indefinitely. The USDA recommends using information technology within iv months for the best quality, taste, and texture.

Insider's takeaway

Defrosting ground beef in the fridge is the safest option, but it takes a full 24 hours. For faster results, submerge the frozen ground beefiness in cold water for 1 hour. The quickest method is the microwave method, which will defrost the ground beefiness in just a few minutes, but you lot'll have to cook the meat immediately.

Taylor Tobin is a contributing writer for INSIDER and a Brooklyn-based author roofing food & drink, beauty, fashion, and pop civilisation. Past works can as well be found at Observer, Brokelyn, and UrbanDaddy. She'south a fan of bikes, books, and bourbon (not necessarily in that order).