If you’re like most people, you probably grab packages of ground beef from the grocery store and toss them straight into the freezer at home to extend their shelf life. But have you given much thought to how you thaw that frozen ground beef before cooking? Properly defrosting meat is actually crucial for food safety reasons.
Thawing ground beef improperly can put you at risk of bacterial growth and foodborne illnesses like E. coli or Salmonella poisoning. The key is using safe defrosting methods that minimize the time the meat spends in the bacterial “danger zone” temperature range between 40°F and 140°F.
To help illustrate the dos and don’ts, we’ve put together a simple infographic that walks you through the best ways to safely thaw ground beef at home. From transferring it to the refrigerator the night before, to using cold water or the microwave defrost setting, you’ll learn fast and easy tips to ensure your ground beef is properly thawed.
The infographic also highlights the methods you should absolutely avoid, like leaving packages of frozen meat out on the counter to thaw at room temperature. Doing so creates the perfect breeding ground for bacterial growth that could potentially make you sick.
So before you start working on that next beef dish, take a minute to check out our infographic on safe ground beef thawing techniques. It’s a quick read that could prevent a nasty bout of food poisoning. When it comes to handling raw meat, it’s always better to stay safe than sorry!