The best and safest way to thaw frozen pork chops is to refrigerate them overnight. However, you need careful planning before cooking it. Luckily, you can still serve dinner even if the pork is still frozen when you get home from work in the afternoon. With cold water and a microwave, you have a choice of 2 safe methods to defrost frozen pork chops instantly.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Using Cold Water to Defrost the Frozen Pork
Step 1. Prepare a bowl of tap water
Temperature is the key to thawing frozen food safely; The water used must always be cold. Fill a bowl with enough water to cover the meat.
Bacteria can multiply rapidly starting at 4 °C. So, cold water will keep the frozen cutlets below this temperature
Step 2. Put the meat in a leak-proof package
You can put each piece of pork separately or put it in a large, sealable plastic bag. This packaging will protect the meat from water that may contain bacteria.
Step 3. Soak the meat in cold water
You must keep the water from reaching room temperature. Change the water every 20 to 30 minutes with cooler one.
You can also place the bowl under a running faucet, but this will waste water
Step 4. Remove the pork chops from the bowl of cold water when they are thawed
Single cuts of meat usually thaw within 30 minutes. Meanwhile, the whole pork chop will melt gradually, starting with the top and bottom. Once the ice on the meat has melted, cut the portion of the meat that is not frozen and store it in the refrigerator. Put back the frozen meat, then soak again in cold water.
Once the ice has melted, the pork should be cooked before freezing again
Method 2 of 2: Microwave Frozen Pork Defrost
Step 1. Place the unwrapped pork chop on a heatproof plate
If you are only defrosting a piece of meat, place it in the middle. If you are defrosting three pieces of meat, leave equal space for each. To make the microwave defrost the meat better, open the packaging that covers it.
If the three cuts of meat are different sizes, place the smallest or thinnest in the center of the plate as the edges are the hottest
Step 2. Use the 30% (low) or 50% (medium) power setting for 2 minutes
Microwaves have different power and efficiency. The “High” setting on the microwave is too strong to defrost.
Setting the " defrost " on the microwave usually uses 30%-50% power
Step 3. Flip the pork cutlet; thaw again for 2 minutes
Since the microwave heats food unevenly, you'll need to flip and twist the cuts of meat to spread the heat. Use a fork or chopsticks to move the meat, then continue the process until the meat is completely melted. This process usually takes about 5-10 minutes, depending on how many pieces are cooked.
- If you're using a whole cut of meat, start cooking it on a maximum setting for 30 seconds, then separate the pieces so they don't pile up.
- The edges of the cutlet may be cooked through after this process is complete.
Step 4. Remove the defrosted pork from the microwave and get ready to cook
Frozen food thawed in the microwave should be cooked immediately. Therefore, you should defrost it about 10 minutes before the meat is cooked, broiled, or broiled.
Meat thawed in cold water can be refrozen after cooking
Tips
- Defrosting meat in the refrigerator is the safest way. Size determines the duration of defrosting, but specifically for pork chops, one night is sufficient. In comparison, frozen whole turkey needs to be thawed for 1-3 days.
- When thawing meat in the refrigerator, keep in mind that the bottom shelf of the fridge freezers is the coldest, while the top shelf is the coldest in your home fridge.
Warning
- Never leave perishable food, such as frozen pork chops, on the counter to defrost. This will only make the food more susceptible to bacteria that cause food poisoning.
- Do not leave perishable frozen food at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
- Make sure you use soap to wash your hands, cutlery, and anything else that comes into contact with raw meat during the defrosting process.
