How To Defrost Tri-Tip?

Tri-tip steak is named due to its triangular shape which give a perfect and rare beef cut to it. This steak turns out to be a very delicious dish for the dinner and you can try some unique recipes for cooking it in the best grill cookbook. However, before you start cooking, the first thing is to defrost it which can be done in different ways.

The most common methods for defrosting tri-tip include using refrigerator, microwave and cold-water thawing. In this article, we will discuss these methods thoroughly and you can choose the method that suits you the most.

How long does it take to defrost the tri-tip?

Defrosting time depends on the procedure you are opting to thaw your tri-tip steak. Refrigerating is a time-consuming process, and it takes one to two days to thaw tri-tip steak.

On the other hand, cold water thawing method is a quick method as it takes one to two hours to defrost the tri-tip. However, using the microwave and defrosting tray can defrost the tri-tip within few minutes.

How to defrost tri-tip fast?

The faster method to defrost tri-tip is the microwave or cold-water thawing technique. However, it is important to note that the microwave method is a bit risky is not done appropriately and should avoid the microwave method for thawing meat unless you are an absolute necessity. The cold-water method is fastest of all and it is very safe too.

You should remember that do not ever keep tri-tip at room temperature for thawing; otherwise, bacteria will home your meat. Room temperature defrosting causes food-borne diseases.

Freezing neat doesn’t kill bacteria, it just deactivates them and when the temperature rises, the bacteria become active again. When meat is being defrosted at room temperature, bacteria start growing and your meat can go bad.

Can I defrost the tri-tip in the refrigerator?

Yes, you can defrost the tri-tip in the refrigerator. It is the best and safest method to defrost tri-tip steak, but it takes a lot of time. For this process, you have to take out the tri-tip from the freezer and place it inside a vacuum-sealed zip lock bag. Remember not to leave the steak out of freezer at room temperature for too long.

Next, take a tray or bowl, place tri-tip inside it, and spot the tray at the bottom rack of the refrigerator. Let the tri-tip stay there for at least a day which is enough time for it to defrost.

It’s better to keep the tri-tip packet inside the tray so that no dripping liquids ruin the other food. This process takes time, so it requires some planning. It means that you need to place a tri-tip in the refrigerator a day before cooking it. Thawed tri-tip can stay in the fridge for three to four days.

Can I Defrost Tri-Tip in Water?

Of course, you can defrost tri-tip in cold water. If you forget to put tri-tip in the fridge a day earlier than cooking it, and now you want to cook steak for dinner, you should go for the cold-water defrosting technique. This method is quicker and safer than refrigerated defrosting.

Firstly, wash your kitchen sink to keep the whole process hygienic. To defrost it in water, take a large bowl and fill it with cold water. Before putting the steak in the water, keep it in the packaging it comes in, or place it in a leak-proof zip lock bag and remove access air. Now, submerge the bag in cold water for 30 minutes; keep changing the water after every half an hour. This process can take 3-4 hours.

Can I Defrost the Tri-Tip in the Microwave?

Defrosting tri-tip in the microwave has some consequences but if you are in a hurry and don’t have much time, then go for microwave defrosting. For this process, take tri-tip out of the freezer and unwrap it. Place it in the microwave-safe tray and cover it with a microwave cover.

Many of us have an experience that steak, when thawed in the microwave, gets hard as the microwave ruins the texture and taste of steak, making it hard to chew. So, keep an eye and set the timer according to the size and weight of the tri-tip steak.

Sources

• Steak school
• Seaside market
• Real simple