Defrosting food - meat in particular

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Years ago if I forgot to take, say, chicken out of the freezer, I'd think nothing of putting it in a plastic bag in a bowl of warm water to defrost it quickly.

Since those days I have read how bad an idea that is, and actually the only way you should defrost is in the fridge overnight.

Are there safe ways to do it any quicker? (I don't own a microwave)

For example, I've got a nice steak in the freezer, if I wanted it this evening can I take it out now and leave to thaw? Or is that also not a great idea and I've really missed the boat and should plan to have it tomorrow and put it in the fridge now?

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Bacon Is Proof said:

Never understood buying fresh meat and then freezing it.
Just buy less.

Well, in this particular case my Dad brought back some lovely steaks from Cornwall, and I didn't even have a kitchen, so freezing was my only option.

Another case, meat suppliers like Donald Russell sell all their stuff frozen, so my freezer is quite full of various packets of BBQ stuff.

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Bacon Is Proof said:

So if your Dad had bought less meat you wouldn't have this problem.


I think it would be the reduction in quality that would put me off the most.

I mean, I see your logic.....but......

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Cool, it sounds like scaremongering and being dramatic is most likely with all the articles etc about the dangers of defrosting then!

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Cotty said:

Usually overnight but if I need a quick defrost I put it in a plastic bag in a bowl of cold running water does the trick.

Also if you have any cast iron pots or pans turn it over and put it on that, the metal pulls the cold out somehow don't ask me how. I also have one of those defrosting plates that does the same thing https://www.amazon.co.uk/b?ie=UTF8&node=163934...

I've wondered about those defrosting plates, kept seeing them on my feed on the Facebooks. Are they any good then, would you recommend it?