How To Defrost Corned Beef?

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You could have frozen corned beef in your freezer that you bought some time ago, and now you want to cook it. Defrosting corned beef can be a challenge if you do not know the proper way to do it.

You have to make sure that you defrost the corned beef without any bacterial growth or spoilage. This article will guide you about the proper methods of defrosting corned beef.

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How long does it take to defrost corned beef?

Defrosting of corned beef can take ten minutes to two days depending upon which method you are choosing. If you choose to defrost the corned beef in a refrigerator, it would take two to three days to defrost. This method is the longest one to defrost corned beef, but at the same time, it is the safest way to get perfectly thawed corned beef.

If you want the corned beef to defrost just in a few hours, you can opt for the cold-water method. It will take two to three hours to give you an evenly thawed corned beef to cook or grill using this method.

However, sometimes, you might decide to cook corned beef at the last minute and do not have hours to wait for its defrosting in the refrigerator or cold water. In this case, you can defrost the corned beef in the microwave oven for 10 to 15 minutes only, as this is the fastest way to defrost corned beef.

How do I defrost corned beef fast?

Although defrosting corned beef in the microwave is not recommended, you can still do that in emergencies as it is the fastest way to defrost it. By this method, you can get defrosted corned beef in just a few minutes only. However, if the procedure is not following accurately, you might end up ruining your corned beef by unevenly cooking it or activating the bacteria in it.

Can I defrost corned beef in a refrigerator?

The longest time taken to defrost corn beef is by using the refrigerator method, but it is also the best way to keep the corned beef safe and fresh while defrosting. To follow this method, you have to take the corned beef out of the freezer and place it on a defrosting tray to catch drippings that might release from the beef.

Please make sure that the plastic covering of the frozen corned beef is not removed before storing it in the refrigerator as it will avoid moisture loss. Next, you have to place that tray in the refrigerator and let it stay there for two to three days.

Meanwhile, keep checking if the beef has defrosted on regular intervals. By following this method, you will get an evenly perfect defrosted corned beef by this method.

Can I defrost corned beef in a microwave?

If you are running out of time, you can opt for defrosting corned beef in a microwave which is the fastest way that you can follow. Take the frozen corned beef out of the freezer, remove its plastic covering, and place it on a microwave friendly plate.

Then, place that plate in the microwave at defrost settings for ten to twelve minutes maximum. Keep checking and changing the side of the corned beef every two minutes to evenly defrost it from each side. Once the corned beef is thawed, it can be cooked using recipes from the beef cookbook.

Can I defrost corned beef in water?

If you want to defrost the corned beef in a few hours, you can defrost it in a bowl of cold water. For this, you have to take the frozen corned beef without removing its plastic covering and completely submerge it in a bowl full of cold water.

You should change the water every 30 minutes to ensure even defrosting, and in two to three hours, you will get a perfectly defrosted corned beef. After two to three hours, when the corned beef is fully thawed, it is ready to be cooked in a pan or grilled on a tailgate grill.