Defrosting Tips & TechniquesPreparation For Freezing:
1.Freeze meats, poultry, and fish in packages with only 1 or 2 layers of food. Place wax paper between layers.
2.Package in
3.Remove as much air as possible.
4.Seal securely, date, and label.
To Defrost:
1.Remove wrapper. This helps moisture to evaporate. Juices from food can get hot and cook the food.
2.Set food in microwave safe dish.
3.Place roasts
4.Select power and minimum time so that items will be
5.Drain liquids during defrosting.
6.Turn over (invert) items during defrosting.
7.Shield edges and ends if needed. (See Cooking Techniques).
After Defrosting:
1.Large items may be icy in the center. Defrosting will complete during STANDING TIME.
2.Let stand, covered, following stand time directions on this page.
3.Rinse foods indicated in the chart.
4.Items which have been layered should be rinsed separately or have a longer stand time.
| DEFROST |
| AFTER DEFROSTING | ||
FOOD | TIME | DURING DEFROSTING |
|
| |
| mins (per lb) |
| Stand Time | Rinse | |
|
|
|
|
| |
Fish and Seafood |
|
|
|
| |
[up to 3 lbs. (1.4 kg)] |
|
|
|
| |
Crabmeat | 6 | Break apart/Rearrange |
|
| |
Fish Steaks | 4 to 6 | Turn over | 5 min. | YES | |
Fish Fillets | 4 to 6 | Turn over/Rearrange/Shield ends |
|
| |
Sea Scallops | 4 to 6 | Break apart/Remove defrosted pieces |
|
| |
Whole fish | 4 to 6 | Turn over |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Meat |
| Turn over/Remove defrosted | 10 min. |
| |
Ground Meat | 4 to 5 | portion/Shield edges |
| ||
|
| ||||
Roasts | 4 to 8 | Turn over/Shield ends and | 30 min. in refrig. |
| |
| defrosted surface |
| |||
|
|
| |||
Chops/Steak | 6 to 8 | Turn over/Rearrange/Shield ends |
|
| |
|
| and defrosted surface |
|
| |
6 to 8 | Turn over/Rearrange/Shield ends |
|
| ||
|
| and defrosted surface | 5 min. | NO | |
Stew Meat | 4 to 8 | Break apart/Rearrange/ | |||
|
| ||||
|
| Remove defrosted pieces |
|
| |
Liver (thinly sliced) | 4 to 6 | Drain liquid/Turn over/ |
|
| |
|
| Separate pieces |
|
| |
Bacon (sliced) | 4 | Turn over | - - - - |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Poultry |
|
|
|
| |
Chicken, Whole | 4 to 6 | Turn over/Shield | 20 min. in refrig. |
| |
[up to 3 lbs. (1.4 kg)] |
|
|
|
| |
Cutlets | 4 to 6 | Break apart/Turn over/ | 5 min. |
| |
|
| Remove defrosted Pieces | YES | ||
|
|
| |||
Pieces | 4 to 6 | Break apart/Turn over/Shield |
| ||
10 min. |
| ||||
Cornish Hens | 6 to 8 | Turn over/Shield |
| ||
|
| ||||
Turkey Breast | 6 | Turn over/Shield | 20 min. in refrig. |
| |
|
|
| |||
|
|
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
| |
15