How Long Can I Leave Ground Beef in Cold Water

How long can I leave frozen ground beef in water to defrost?

• Thread starter preslove
• Start date May 31, 2012

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Sep 10, 2003

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• #1

I'm about to go home for a 3 hour lunch. I have some nice ground grass fed beef in the freezer and was wondering about defrosting it. If I put it in water and then go to the gym for an hour, will the beef still be good when I get home? I've never really timed defrosting meat, and don't generally freeze ground beef (this came from the farmers' market frozen).

Mar 20, 2000

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• #2

it'll probably still be frozen in the middle if it's just an hour

• #3

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Factsheets/Ground_Beef_and_Food_Safety/index.asp#12

What is the best way to thaw ground beef?
The best way to safely thaw ground beef is in the refrigerator. Keeping meat cold while it is defrosting is essential to prevent growth of bacteria. Cook or refreeze within 1 or 2 days.

To defrost ground beef more rapidly, you can defrost in the microwave oven or in cold water. If using the microwave, cook the ground beef immediately because some areas may begin to cook during the defrosting. To defrost in cold water, put the meat in a watertight plastic bag and submerge. Change the water every 30 minutes. Cook immediately. Do not refreeze raw ground meat thawed in cold water or in the microwave oven unless you cook it first.

Never leave ground beef or any perishable food out at room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour at 90 °F and above).

don't die

• #4

Defrost that shit in the microwave yo. I've never put anything besides a turkey in cold water to defrost it.

Dec 6, 2004

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• #5

Parents been defrosting in water for years. I havent died yet.

Jul 29, 2001

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• #6

Put it in a ziplock bag. And you can leave it in there for quite a while.

• #7

I'm about to go home for a 3 hour lunch. I have some nice ground grass fed beef in the freezer and was wondering about defrosting it. If I put it in water and then go to the gym for an hour, will the beef still be good when I get home?

Officially, this is not a "safe" method of defrosting.

Unofficially, you'll be fine. Just be sure you cook it thoroughly.

Oct 14, 1999

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• #8

Put it in the water and then in the fridge if you're really concerned. In 3 hours, though, the ice will keep the water damn cold, so I doubt you'd need to put it in the fridge unless you live in a 100F home.

• #9

Parents been defrosting in water for years. I havent died yet.

• #10

I am not a fan of defrosting meat this way. it always seems to come out soggy.

anyway if you put in a ziplock back it will be fine for the few hours.

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer

• #11

This is a trick question, right?

How long can I leave frozen ground beef in water to defrost?

Until it's defrosted? After that, you would be leaving thawed ground beef in water?

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer

• #12

I grew up with setting frozen meats out on the counter in the morning, then cooking them when you got home around dinner time. I can't recall getting sick.

• #13

Stick the meat upside down on a frying pan. So the meat is in contact with the metal. The metal will suck the cold out of the meat and defrost it in a few hours. They used to sell a "magic defroster" as seen on tv.. is just a metal pan.. same thing...

Funniest thing is my wife remembered me telling her to do this and I came downstairs and see the meat in the package with the foam side touching the pan... she didn't get the concept.

May 18, 2003

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• #14

I grew up with setting frozen meats out on the counter in the morning, then cooking them when you got home around dinner time. I can't recall getting sick.

This right here. Its simple. I leave mine in the sink though, in case any water/blood starts to drip.

Oct 14, 1999

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• #15

Stick the meat upside down on a frying pan. So the meat is in contact with the metal. The metal will suck the cold out of the meat and defrost it in a few hours. They used to sell a "magic defroster" as seen on tv.. is just a metal pan.. same thing...

Funniest thing is my wife remembered me telling her to do this and I came downstairs and see the meat in the package with the foam side touching the pan... she didn't get the concept.

This works better with thinner packages of meat. The thicker it is, the less benefit you get from immediately cooling the outer layer of the meat as conduction through the meat itself becomes a bigger factor.

Then again, in general, for faster temperature change, one should reduce thickness.

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Source: https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/how-long-can-i-leave-frozen-ground-beef-in-water-to-defrost.2249221/

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