To defrost beef quickly the refrigerator method is the best (about 24 hours for every 1-2 pounds), with the cold-water method a close second (about 1 hour per pound). For even faster thawing, microwave thawing is approved by the USDA, but may affect beef’s texture and taste. Here’s how to thaw beef with the conventional methods, and a few alternative methods like defrosting trays, vinegar and water thawing, and cooking from frozen.
How to defrost beef isn’t a very glamorous topic, but it’s an essential nuts-and-bolts topic that every home cook needs to know. Before we dive into the ways to thaw beef, there are a few housekeeping items we need to mention.
USDA Food Safety Guidelines for Thawing Meat
All of these recommendation below come from the USDA’s Food Safety & Inspection Services. These guidelines are designed to keep beef at a safe temperature and prevent bacterial growth, foodborne illness, and risk of food poisoning. These methods keep beef out of what the USDA calls the “danger zone” — between 40- and 140-degrees Fahrenheit, which is where bacteria start to multiply rapidly. Since our farm’s focus is beef, that’s what this post refers to, but similar guidelines apply to seafood, turkey, poultry, lamb, and pork.
Thawing Times Variables
When discussing thawing, it’s important to note that thawing time is directly related to three factors:
1. The refrigerator’s temperature (if using the refrigerator thawing method)
2. The cut of meat that needs thawed
3. How the meat was frozen
The first two factors are obvious — food will thaw faster in a refrigerator set a 40 °F, compared to 35 °F, and larger cuts of meat will take longer to thaw than small cuts of meat.
The last factor – how the meat was frozen – may be a new idea. In short, the shape that food is frozen in makes a huge difference. Flat freezing in a zipper-locked bag or vacuum sealed package speeds the thawing time immensely.
In practical terms, this means if you want to expedite the thawing time on one pound of ground beef, it’s best to store it in zipper-locked bag where the air is removed and the beef is pushed into a flat layer. When it’s time to use, the thawing will go MUCH faster than how it was packaged from the grocery store.
Safe Ways to Thaw Meat by Cut, Method and Weight
| Cut of Beef | Refrigerator | Cold Water | Microwave |
| Ground Beef (1 lb) | 24 hours | ~1 hour | 8-10 minutes |
| Steak (1-inch thick) | 12-24 hours | 1-2 hours | 8-12 minutes |
| Roast (3-5 lbs) | 2-3 days | 4-6 hours | 10-15 minutes per pound |
Quick Tips for How to Defrost Meat Quickly:
- Freezing beef flat in a thin layer before storing will result in faster thaw time
- Always cook beef immediately after cold-water and microwave thawing
- Refrigerator thawing is the only method that is safe for refreezing beef.
How long does beef take to thaw in the refrigerator?
Refrigerator thawing is our go-to method for thawing frozen beef. It does require a little advance planning, but the refrigerator method is the safest way to thaw and gives the best results. Refrigerator thawing requires about 24 hours for every 1-2 pounds of beef.
How to refrigerator thaw beef:
Refrigerator thawing is very easy to do. Simply place the beef on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator until it’s thawed. We recommend placing it on a plate to catch any drippings or juice that sneaks out of the packaging as the meat defrosts. After thawing in the refrigerator, meat should be used within 3-5 days.
Benefit of refrigerator thawing:
One of the big advantages to using this method is that it is safe to refreeze the meat if you decide not to cook it. It is not safe to refreeze with any other defrosting method.
How long does it take to thaw beef in cold-water?
Cold-water thawing is our second favorite method of thawing beef. We use cold-water thawing whenever we haven’t planned-ahead and don’t have time to do refrigerator thawing. It takes about 1-hour per 1-pound of beef. This means that smaller cuts of meat should thaw in an hour or less, and a 3 to 4-pound roast may take 2-3 hours to defrost. Beef thawed with cold water thawing should be cooked immediately.
How-to cold-water thaw beef:
Place meat in a leak proof package or bag. Fill a large bowl or kitchen sink with cold water. Submerge the frozen bagged beef in the cold tap water until it’s thawed. Frozen meat will float, so to keep it submerged under the water it will need to be weighed down with something, such as a can or you can use a thaw belt.
With the cold-water thawing method, it’s best to replace the water every 30 minutes with very cold water. Why? This allows the meat to stay cool and never in what the USDA calls the “danger zone,” between 40- and 140-degrees Fahrenheit, which is where bacteria start to multiply rapidly.
Alternatively, if you don’t want to change the water every 30-minutes, place the bowl under a faucet and let cold water trickle on it as it thaws. This method will keep the water at an appropriate cool temperature, and the beef will thaw quickly. That said, the downsides are that it may raise your utility bill and you’re wasting a lot of water.
How to thaw beef in the microwave?
Thawing beef in the microwave is a quick method that’s recognized as safe by the USDA, but it’s not ideal. We only use this method when we’re in a pinch and there’s no other option.
The problem with microwave thawing is that it’s uneven. Part of the beef begins to cook while other parts are still frozen. This uneven thawing results in a loss of texture and flavor. When the beef is cooked, you will notice a difference in microwave thawed beef vs. the other two thawing methods.
How to microwave thaw beef:
To thaw beef in the microwave, remove any packaging, especially plastic wrap that isn’t microwave safe. Place it beef on a microwave-safe plate. Use the “defrost” setting on the microwave, or manually set it to low power (30%). For best results, thaw 1-2 minutes per pound, and rotate or flip the beef halfway through.
Beef that is thawed in the microwave should be cooked immediately for food safety reasons.
Alternative thawing methods:
Do defrosting trays really work?
A defrosting tray – also called a thawing plate – is another option when thawing beef. It’s a tray that’s made of highly conductive, food-safe aluminum. It works through thermal conduction — naturally absorbs the surrounding area and transfers warmth evenly to the frozen food.
To use a defrosting tray, remove all the packaging from the meat and place the frozen item on the surface of the tray. A 1-inch steak will thaw in about 30 minutes, and one pound of ground beef will thaw in about 30 minutes. To speed up the thawing, flip the meat halfway through.
Although we personally like the simplicity and speed of the defrosting tray, it is not recommended by the USDA currently because meat is in the temperature Danger Zone (40° – 140°F). An alternative to a defrosting tray is to place food on a metal tray or sheet pan in the refrigerator to speed up thawing safely.
Does vinegar and water speed up thaw time?
Vinegar and water thawing is another method to thaw beef. The idea behind using vinegar to defrost meat is that vinegar lowers the water’s freezing point, which speeds up the thawing process.
This method is similar to the cold-water thawing because the frozen meat is sealed in a bag. The big difference is that vinegar is added to the water. In our kitchen experiments, the meat didn’t thaw any faster than the cold-water thawing method, so in our kitchen, we are sticking with the USDA’s food safety recommendation on cold-water thawing.
Can you cook beef from frozen?
Yes! You can cook beef from frozen, and this is a great option when you didn’t plan ahead and thaw meat in advance. Some studies show that grilling a steak from frozen can be even better than traditional cooking methods.
When cooking frozen beef, it will take about 50% longer to cook. With this method, it’s ideal to use an instant read food thermometer so that you don’t overcook or undercook the meat.
How to grill steaks from frozen
Place frozen steaks over direct heat on the grill. Sear steaks for about 5-7 minutes on each side. Then, move steaks to the indirect-heat side of the grill and season with salt and pepper. Cook steaks until they reach your desired doneness. Pull steaks about 5-degrees before your desired temperature to allow time for carryover cooking. We pull our steaks at 125-degrees for a final medium rare doneness of 130-degrees.
FAQ’s
No! Do not thaw meat at room temperature. According to the USDA, room-temperature thawing lets beef sit in the “danger zone” between 40 and 140 °F, where bacteria multiply rapidly.
You can only refreeze the meat if you used the refrigerator thawing method. All other methods, you should cook the beef before refreezing to ensure that harmful bacteria don’t occur.
Yes, it is possible to refreeze beef that has been thawed in the refrigerator. It is not safe to refreeze beef thawed by other methods.
The fastest method to thaw beef is with a microwave, but this method will cause the meat to lose some quality and flavor. The fastest way to thaw beef and maintain its quality is the cold-water bath, which will thaw beef in approximately 1-hour, depending on the cut of beef.
Beef that has been refrigerator thawed should be cooked within 3-5 days.
No, it is not safe to thaw beef in hot water.
To thaw ground beef quickly without the microwave, we recommend the cold-water thaw method. Place the ground beef in a leak proof package, and submerge in cold water until it’s thawed. It will take approximately 1-hour per 1-pound of beef.
Place frozen steaks over direct heat on grill. Sear for 5-7 minutes on each side. Then, move steaks to the indirect-heat side. Cook until desired temperature. Allow time to rest.
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More Recipes to Try:
- All-Purpose Dry Rub for Roast
- How to Cook Beef Roast
- Garlic Roast Beef
- Easy Slow Cooker Pot Roast
- Easy Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches
- Beef Stew Recipe
- 10 Best Beef Rub Recipes
- The Difference Between Corned Beef vs. Beef Roast
- Pepper Steak Stir Fry Recipe
- How to Buy a Cow From a Farmer
- What Everybody Ought to Know About Beef Cuts
I originally published this in 2017, and have since added new photos and tips.
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