<![CDATA[Defrosting]]>How do you defrost meat?


I read that the recommended way is to defrost overnight in the fridge, or in the microwave before cooking. But if you defrost overnight and decide not to cook the next day, then you refreeze? And using the microwave will sometimes result in the meat getting cooked.

The other way of defrosting by soaking in water or leaving in the kitchen before cooking breeds bacteria but seems more convenient.

My maid usually defrosts the meat in the fridge overnight, but I often catch her forgetting and then soaking the meat in water. :x She doesnt know how to agar agar the microwave defrost so usually end up cooking the meat.

Should I close one or both eyes?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/12100/defrostingRSS for NodeThu, 30 Apr 2026 01:20:55 GMTSat, 03 Jul 2010 09:28:42 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Defrosting on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 03:01:56 GMT]]>

mathsparks:


Still, shld I throw defrosted food away if I changed my mind about cooking. :?
mathsparks, one more day in the fridge is okay! NEVER re-freeze.

Oh, BTW, if yours is a Filipina, you may want to be very clear which part you are referring to. My current one from Ilo Ilo calls the fridge the ref(ridgerator) and the freezer the fridge. :stupid: :stupid: In the early days, that nearly killed me! 😢

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/213657https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/213657Tue, 06 Jul 2010 03:01:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Defrosting on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 03:00:31 GMT]]>I know of this thing about defrosting in the fridge and not refreezing thawed food. For my kids’ health and safety, I try to follow. But realistically speaking, my mum and my grandma, b4 that, have been defrosting meats and seafood in a tub of water in the sink all their lives and there are times when they refreeze thawed meats and we all grew up hale and healthy.


Sometimes I wonder if we are really becoming too clean for our own good.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/213654https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/213654Tue, 06 Jul 2010 03:00:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Defrosting on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 12:50:31 GMT]]>:thankyou: all for sharing. Troublesome to defrost in the fridge overnight, but seems to be the safest way. Will do nightly checks on my helper to make sure she remembers to do it. Haiz. Might as well do it myself.


Still, shld I throw defrosted food away if I changed my mind about cooking. :?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/213484https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/213484Mon, 05 Jul 2010 12:50:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Defrosting on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 03:54:34 GMT]]>

schweppes:
:offtopic: Mods...


Just a quick :welcome: back to Autumnbronze. Glad to have u back. U fixed your PC liao? :lol:
Hi Schweppes,

Yup, replaced the CPU :lol:


:imsorry: :offtopic: mods

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/213272https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/213272Mon, 05 Jul 2010 03:54:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Defrosting on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 02:41:10 GMT]]>Oh yes, don’t refreeze meat that has been defrosted. An extra day in the fridge is fine.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/213188https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/213188Mon, 05 Jul 2010 02:41:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Defrosting on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 02:40:05 GMT]]>I pack meat into various portions before freezing so that I can take out the right amount each time depending on how much I need. Defrosting, I’d take it out in the morning, leave it at room temperature for about 45 mins then give it a wash and it’s ready to go into the soup for stock. As for meat that’s for cooking dishes, I’ll leave it in the fridge to defrost in the morning (if it is to be cooked for dinner) or overnight (if to be used for lunch). If not using, then I leave it at the compartment that’s directly under the freezer for the next day.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/213184https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/213184Mon, 05 Jul 2010 02:40:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Defrosting on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 01:49:20 GMT]]>Yah it’s the change in temperature (up or down) that gets the bacteria growing. so if you thaw and refreeze, it’s bad.


I get the maid to pack meat into smaller bags first, so she takes out what we need.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/213140https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/213140Mon, 05 Jul 2010 01:49:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Defrosting on Sun, 04 Jul 2010 14:49:47 GMT]]>:offtopic: Mods...


Just a quick :welcome: back to Autumnbronze. Glad to have u back. U fixed your PC liao? :lol:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/213081https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/213081Sun, 04 Jul 2010 14:49:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Defrosting on Sun, 04 Jul 2010 14:01:59 GMT]]>Hi mathsparks,


I defrost my meat in the fridge overnight.

Its advisable not to re-freeze after you have defrosted.

What I do is actually place the defrosted meat in the chiller. It should last for 2 days (my experience). I have not kept it longer than that.

I also squeeze lemon juice on my chicken and fish to tenderize the chicken and get rid of the fishy smell before doing that. For me, this extra step is just a personal preference, that all.

If you can marinade it before placing it in the chiller, think it will taste even better after cooking 😄

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/213078https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/213078Sun, 04 Jul 2010 14:01:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Defrosting on Sun, 04 Jul 2010 13:54:48 GMT]]>I read somewhere that it is not advisable to refreeze.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/213076https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/213076Sun, 04 Jul 2010 13:54:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Defrosting on Sun, 04 Jul 2010 13:43:31 GMT]]>That seems to be the safest way to defrost, cjs. But if last minute you decide not to cook, then sian hor? Re-freeze?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/213072https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/213072Sun, 04 Jul 2010 13:43:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Defrosting on Sun, 04 Jul 2010 12:57:10 GMT]]>Yah, I defrost meat in the chiller the night before, take out from chiller and set on kitchen top about half hour before cooking. Meat meant for stir fry is cut and marinated and put back into chiller. They are taken out about half hour before cooking time.


I personally take out meat to defrost in chiller the night before as I am the cook and I decide my menu.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/213060https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/213060Sun, 04 Jul 2010 12:57:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Defrosting on Sat, 03 Jul 2010 13:22:30 GMT]]>my mother put meat in it (although i dont eat but eat burger and pizza all those) then press button then thats it finish…

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/212884https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/212884Sat, 03 Jul 2010 13:22:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Defrosting on Sat, 03 Jul 2010 13:19:02 GMT]]>mine also have. it's just that my helper donno how to control the duration and end up cooking the meat she's supposed to be defrosting. :shock:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/212882https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/212882Sat, 03 Jul 2010 13:19:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Defrosting on Sat, 03 Jul 2010 13:16:16 GMT]]>my microwave oven got defrost meat option yours dont have? :?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/212878https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/212878Sat, 03 Jul 2010 13:16:16 GMT