While your first thought might be to leave your mince on the bench to defrost, this is never recommended and is considered unsafe.
In fact, the safest way to defrost mince is in the fridge, although that can take all day.
Chef Mel Alafaci is a Brisbane-based chef and author of Culinary Quickies. She says to place your mince in the fridge for 24-36 hours before cooking.
"This gradual defrosting is what the professionals recommend as the safest way to maintain the integrity of the beef as the ice crystals defrost slowly and the mince is kept at the 'safe' temperature zones."
But sometimes you need your mince defrosted, and you need it defrosted now.
How to defrost mince quickly
Luckily, there are two ways to defrost mince quickly: in the microwave and with cold water!
How to defrost mince in the microwave
"Depending on the strength of the microwave, you can safely defrost a 500g pack of mince in about 5-12 minutes," says Mel. "The only problem is that sometimes the corners might 'cook', leaving you with a bit of unsightly grey mince. This can still be cooked and used, and by the time you have fluffed this up and cooked it, there is no harm done."
How to defrost mince in water
"Yes, it's quicker to defrost in warm or hot water, but it's not considered safe," says Mel.
"Use cold water and ensure that the mince is 'watertight' by leaving it in the packaging or placing it in a Ziplock bag so that the water does not interact directly with the mince. "
"You definitely don't want the water touching the mince directly, so make sure you bag it at least."
CHEF'S NOTE: Always remember that the food safety danger zone is between 5-60 degrees Celsius, so the rule is to always keep it under or over those temperatures to keep you and your family safe.
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