How To Defrost In A Microwave
When you need to defrost food to serve dinner to your family or guests fast, the microwave is your best bet. Defrosting meat in a sink can take hours or if you opt for refrigerator defrosting, it can take days. With a microwave, it’s only a matter of minutes.
Microwaves have cycles and settings that allow for safe and quick defrosting. Keep reading to learn how to defrost meat and produce properly and safely.
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DEFROSTING MEAT IN THE MICROWAVE
Have you ever forgotten to transfer chicken from the freezer to the fridge the night before you want to cook it? Or maybe you’re running late and want to whip up a meal fast but don’t have time to defrost the meat.
The answer to your problem is your microwave. A microwave can defrost meat, including poultry, pork and beef, offering speed and convenience to get dinner on the table. With a microwave-safe container and these defrosting steps, you’ll be in great shape to start cooking a memorable meal.
1. REMOVE MEAT FROM ITS PACKAGING AND PUT IT IN A CONTAINER
Unless explicitly stated, food packaging should never be microwaved. Use a glass container for defrosting as it’s safe and can produce the desired results.
2. USE THE DEFROST OPTION ON YOUR MICROWAVE
Always use the defrost option on your microwave if your model has one. Certain models require you to input the type of food you’re defrosting and its weight. This will calculate the defrost time for your item. Select microwaves don’t have a defrost button, so you will have to manually adjust the power setting via the Power Level button to 20% or 30%. If your model doesn’t require food type and weight, you can set the time manually. Typically, meat needs to defrost for 8 to 10 minutes per pound. Search the meat’s packaging to find its weight or use a kitchen scale. Watch this video to learn how to select microwave defrost settings on Maytag® Microwaves.
3. FLIP, ROTATE OR BREAK APART THE MEAT
Without an automatically rotating turntable, you will have to do it yourself. Manually rotate meat every few minutes for even defrosting. Also, flip large chunks of meat or break apart separate pieces that are stuck or still frozen together. By flipping, rotating or breaking apart meat, it may defrost faster and more evenly.
4. COOK IMMEDIATELY
Don’t wait too long to cook food once it’s defrosted as this could lead to bacteria growth on the food. A good approach is to move on to the next step in your cooking process while food is defrosting in the microwave. This way, it won’t sit in the microwave after being defrosted.
DEFROSTING FROZEN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN THE MICROWAVE
Microwaving provides a quick and efficient way to cook frozen fruits and vegetables. It offers convenience by efficiently thawing produce, and preparing them for stovetop cooking or oven baking. You must use a microwave-safe container and always closely monitor produce as it defrosts.
Follow these steps to defrost produce in your microwave:
- Take the fruits or vegetables from the freezer
- Put them in a glass bowl or some type of microwave-safe cookware
- Separate the items as much as possible
- Use your microwave’s defrost setting if one is available. You may have to input the produce’s weight to calculate the required defrosting cycle. If there’s no defrost button, manually adjust the settings to a 20-30% power level. Review your owner’s manual for more detailed instructions for this step.
- Before defrosting, review the product packaging for specific instructions.
- Thaw your produce for about 2-3 minutes while closely monitoring it. Defrosting times may vary based on what you are defrosting.
- Repeat this process until your produce is fully thawed.
- Prepare and cook your defrosted produce immediately so they don’t get soggy.
MICROWAVE DEFROSTING: WHAT IS IT AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
Many microwaves have a “Defrost” button that allows you to quickly thaw frozen foods. It employs standard microwave heat by reducing the power to about 30%, which thaws food without cooking it. Many models require an input of an item’s weight or the type of food to calculate a proper defrost time.
Similar to other microwave settings, food is heated via electromagnetic waves generated by a magnetron. Certain settings that require lower power levels, like Defrost, cycle the magnetron on and off instead of leaving it activated the entire time at 100% power.
IS IT SAFE TO USE YOUR MICROWAVE TO DEFROST FOOD?
Defrosting food in a microwave is perfectly safe but there are health risks associated with not cooking food immediately after it’s thawed. If you let most meat products sit much longer than the recommended defrost time of 8 to 10 minutes per pound, harmful bacteria could grow and the food may become a danger to eat.
Never defrost food in a microwave that has been out of the freezer for more than 20 minutes. A safer method is to slowly defrost it in a bowl of cold water or the fridge.
DOES DEFROSTING MEAT IN THE MICROWAVE WRECK ITS TEXTURE AND TASTE?
Using a microwave to defrost meat is a quick alternative to defrosting overnight in a fridge, but you may risk the meat losing moisture and developing a dry taste.
To help prevent this, begin cooking the meat as soon as it’s thawed. The benefits include helping eliminate the chances of bacteria growth and keeping the desired texture of your red meat, fish, pork or poultry.
HOW MUCH TIME IS NEEDED TO MICROWAVE DEFROST FOOD
Defrosting times in a microwave depend on the type of food you’re defrosting and its weight.
Fruits and vegetables typically take 2 to 3 minutes
Meat usually takes 8 to 10 minutes per pound.
Check frozen food packaging for instructions, if available, to ensure you properly defrost your food. Closely monitor your food while it’s defrosting in a microwave.
EXPLORE MAYTAG® MICROWAVES
Whether it’s an over-the-range or countertop model, Maytag brand has a microwave that can streamline the cooking process and offers the features you want. Shop our collection of Maytag® Microwaves and add convenience and performance to your daily cooking routine.
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