If you’re in a hurry to defrost meat, but you’re wary of using the microwave, you can speed up the defrosting process by using a clever chef’s hack.
According to Cher Loh, the Head Tutor at the Good Housekeeping Institute cookery school, all you need is a baking tray.
Most people place their frozen meat on a plate, but if you place it on an aluminium baking sheet, it will defrost faster.
As aluminium is a conductor of heat, it speeds up the thawing time.
Moreover, the way you store your food in the freezer affects the time it takes to defrost.
“You want the food to have really good contact to the tray,” he told the Good Housekeeping. “So it’s preferable to freeze your food as flat as possible.”
He recommends placing meat such as mince in a zip-lock bag and squeezing out as much air as possible.
“Then lay it on a counter and flatten it,” he advises.