Dumb meat thawing question

[laohaire]

Sorry, meat is pretty new to our house.
I had been thawing meat by putting it in the fridge the night before I would cook it.

However, I forgot to do that last night. My parents are here and I don't think they are going to go for a vegetarian meal, so I need some meat, lol!

Can I thaw it on the counter?

About how long does that take?

Any dangers to thawing on the counter?

It's about 1 pound of cube steak, that's all.

[Mrs-Mama]

Put it in a ziploc bag, squeeze the air out, and put the bag in water. Should thaw pretty quickly.

[4evermom]

I think you are supposed to put the bag in COLD water. You can change the water periodically so it isn't too cold. Don't want the outside of the meat being warm for a prolonged time to discourage bacteria growth. That's why they say not to leave it on the counter.

[laohaire]

Thanks! Off to put it in water...

[mamadelbosque]

You can either stick it on the counter, or in water... cold is 'better' but hot is faster and works just peachy fine too

[Smocked]

Technically, the safe way to thaw meat with water is under cold running water. That said, I thaw meat in any variety of ways depending on how soon I need it including under hot water (just be careful not to cook it under there ). The quickest way IME is to defrost in the microwave.

[laohaire]

I had the meat on the counter for about 45 minutes before I posted this, then went down to put it in water when I got responses. It was a bit of cube steak, and oops, most of it was already thawed! So I threw it into the fridge to wait until tonight.

On to have more adventures in meat ...

[Alyantavid]

Originally Posted by Smocked

Technically, the safe way to thaw meat with water is under cold running water. That said, I thaw meat in any variety of ways depending on how soon I need it including under hot water (just be careful not to cook it under there ). The quickest way IME is to defrost in the microwave.

Yep. I almost always defrost on the counter.

[laohaire]

Yeah, I forgot to mention we don't have a microwave, or that would definitely have been the method.

[Ruthla]

You have to be really careful thawing in the microwave. It's easy to accidentally cook the meat in the microwave instead of just thawing it- and then it has an awful rubbery texture!

I usually put meat on the counter for a little while, then transfer to the fridge.

[nerdymom]

If I remember to take it out the night before, I thaw in the fridge. If I remember in the morning I thaw on the counter. If I remember a few hours before the meal is to be served I thaw in tepid water (make sure to change often). If I forget until I start prepping, I make something else.

[goldfinches]

Defrosting on the counter is not safe - you can grow bad microorganisms on your meat that way. It's not being held at a safe temperature during that time. (although i continually tell my in-laws this, they keep doing it )
The best way is under cold, running water or in the microwave.

[Sadystar]

Originally Posted by goldfinches

Defrosting on the counter is not safe - you can grow bad microorganisms on your meat that way. It's not being held at a safe temperature during that time. (although i continually tell my in-laws this, they keep doing it )....

...probably cos they recognise it for the ott germ paranoia that it is! Seriously I guess they cook it afterwards and wash hands, utensils and surfaces appropriately? And you will have noticed that they, like the rest of us who do it, ain't dropped dead from food poisoning yet....

[mamadelbosque]

Originally Posted by Sadystar

...probably cos they recognise it for the ott germ paranoia that it is! Seriously I guess they cook it afterwards and wash hands, utensils and surfaces appropriately? And you will have noticed that they, like the rest of us who do it, ain't dropped dead from food poisoning yet....

A big YEAH THAT! We've been defrosting meat on the counter/table for as long as I've been alive, and before then... and miracuously, we're still alive!!

[Alyantavid]

Originally Posted by Sadystar

...probably cos they recognise it for the ott germ paranoia that it is! Seriously I guess they cook it afterwards and wash hands, utensils and surfaces appropriately? And you will have noticed that they, like the rest of us who do it, ain't dropped dead from food poisoning yet....

Yep. Hasn't killed us or the huge number of other people who do it.

[Ola_]

I thought I was going to be the only one who thaws at room temp. LOL Hasn't killed us either.

[goldfinches]

Originally Posted by Sadystar

...probably cos they recognise it for the ott germ paranoia that it is! Seriously I guess they cook it afterwards and wash hands, utensils and surfaces appropriately? And you will have noticed that they, like the rest of us who do it, ain't dropped dead from food poisoning yet....

No they aren't dead from food poisoning, but they often have intestinal trouble from it. If it's not something that you mind, vomiting and diareha, go for it.

I don't have germ paronoia, and I don't know what ott means, but I don't think it was nice of you to say that...

[mamadelbosque]

I thaw meat on the counter on at least a weekly basis. I can't remember the last time anyone in my house had diahrea, let aone vomiting.

[Sadystar]

ott = over the top

We don't get sick from meat either, and we live in the south of spain (its hot) and we don't have a fridge (off-grid). If they're getting sick that often then they probably aren't cooking it properly.

[Alyantavid]

Originally Posted by goldfinches

No they aren't dead from food poisoning, but they often have intestinal trouble from it. If it's not something that you mind, vomiting and diareha, go for it.

I don't have germ paronoia, and I don't know what ott means, but I don't think it was nice of you to say that...

Maybe they have something else going on?

I don't know that I'd thaw grocery store meat on the counter though. Ours is all pastured, grass fed, antibiotic free so maybe that has something to do with it?