The Best Way to Defrost Food

Just as freezing food properly is important for ensuring its quality and safety, so is thawing it correctly. In this blog post, you’ll learn everything you need to know about thawing food. 

Defrosting in the refrigerator: the one-size-fits-all solution (in 24 hours)

Anything you store in the freezer can be safely thawed by placing it in the refrigerator 24 hours in advance. This gives the food plenty of time to warm up gradually without reaching a temperature at which bacteria can multiply. This is because the temperature cannot exceed that of the refrigerator (4 to 5°C). However, it’s important to place the food on a small dish or in a bowl in the refrigerator so that any liquid that drips during thawing doesn’t come into contact with other foods. Also, cover it with plastic wrap. 

Suitable for: meat, fish, home-cooked meals, fruit

Defrosting in the microwave: when you need to do it quickly

Your microwave’s defrost setting is ideal when you need to prepare a food item quickly. In this mode, the microwave operates at a lower power setting, heating the food without actually cooking it. If your microwave doesn’t have a defrost setting, you can set it to a lower wattage yourself. Around 250 watts usually works well. Stir the food occasionally while defrosting, or for meat and fish, turn it over. A microwave with a defrost setting will beep to let you know when to do this.

Suitable for: meat, fish, home-cooked meals, fruit

You don't need to thaw this

You can use frozen fruits and vegetables right away; there’s no need to thaw them first. You can put them straight into a pan, simmer them, steam them… If you want to use the fruit to make a cake, for example, it’s best to thaw it in the refrigerator or microwave first, otherwise it will add too much water to your dish. Here are some ways you can use them in these dishes:

• Oven-Baked Breakfast Dish (with Berries and Chocolate)
• Blueberry Parfait
• Strawberry Crumble

Suitable for: vegetables, fruit

For the sake of completeness

There are also other defrosting methods that are used. For the sake of completeness, I’ll briefly explain them here, though they aren’t my preferred choice. These include: defrosting under cold running water or in a bowl of cold water that you change regularly as the water warms up. This uses a lot of water, and you have to pay close attention to ensure the temperature stays low enough to keep bacterial growth to a minimum.
 
So if you want to whip up a quick meal on Tuesday evening between music school and dance class, defrosting in the microwave or in the fridge (if you remembered to do so on Monday) is an easier and safer option. That way, you’ll have (part of) your meal ready in no time. 

These dishes are perfect to keep on hand in your freezer for those quick Tuesday-night meals. You can even eat them at other times during the week. 😉

• Basic Tomato Sauce
• Bean and Sweet Potato Stew
• Creamy Radish Soup

Sources:
How do I defrost my products properly? (n.d.). Iglo. https://www.iglo.nl/alles-over-voeding/voeding/ontdooien

Tjon-A-Joe, A. (November 23, 2022). Want to defrost food safely and quickly? Here’s what you need to keep in mind. RTL News & Entertainment. https://www.rtl.nl/rubrieken/wonen/artikel/5346177/veilig-en-snel-voedingswaren-ontdooien-doe-je-zo