quick thawing Archives

(Freezer making meal prep with my pregnant friends)

After three weeks of spacing out meal prep I have a fully stocked freezer ready to go complete with meal options like Chicken and broccoli cheese casserole, Lasagna rolls, Meatballs a variety of soups, even baked goods like pretzels, rolls, corn bread for the chili and banana bread.

Last weekend I invited a few other pregnant friends over to make freezer meals so we could all have a little party and prepare for when we have no time or energy to cook. So with baby on the way I may not be sleeping much but at least I know we will be eating well. The best part is I don’t even have to think about it. Now it’s just about picking what I want and heat and serve delicious homemade meals.

(My fully stocked freezer full of easy meal options)

Wrapping up all the great secrets, techniques and recipes for Make Ahead Meals and Dinner Made Easy with Freezer Meals I share this week Three safe ways to thaw food quickly so you have great tasting meals when you need them most.

Three safe ways to thaw food quickly

In general it is not safe to thaw items directly on the counter, as it takes too long and thaws unevenly. Here are Three safe ways to thaw food quickly.

How to thaw meat:

Refrigerator Thawing works well and is very safe leaving the thawed product still safe to eat 2-3 days after it is thawed. When thawing meat put the item on a plate to catch any drippings as it thaws. Note that this method just takes time; generally allow 24 hours per every 4 pounds of meat. Even small amounts can take a full day to thaw. Keep in mind that some areas or the refrigerator are colder than others and this will effect the time to thaw as well. Food will take longer to thaw in a refrigerator set at 35 °F than in one set at 40 °F.

Cold Water Thawing
No time to wait for the refrigerator? Cold Water Thawing is faster than refrigerator thawing but requires more attention. Place the food in a leak-proof package or plastic bag. If the bag leaks, bacteria from the air or surrounding environment could be introduced into the food. Also, you don’t want the meat to absorb extra water. Submerge the bag in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes so it continues to thaw. Estimate about 30 minutes per pound; 3- to 4-pound package may take 2 to 3 hours. A 16-pound turkey will take about 8 hours to thaw this way. For larger items it is easiest to plan ahead and let them thaw in the refrigerator. If thawed completely, the food must be cooked immediately.

Microwave Thawing
This method is my least recommended but it is considered safe by USDA standards so I will include it for last-minute needs. With microwave thawing plan to cook the food immediately after thawing because some may become warm and begin to cook during the thawing. Holding partially cooked food is not recommended as it could bring it into the temperature danger zone. Follow the individual unit’s introduction for microwave thawing, as each unit is different.

Cooking Without Thawing
No time at all? No worries, this is why I recommend packaging items in individual servings. It is perfectly safe to cook foods from the frozen state. The cooking will take approximately 50% longer than the recommended time for fully thawed or fresh meat and poultry. This method is great for chicken breasts, pork chops and burgers.

(individual burritos, ready for the freezer)

Casseroles

(Chicken broccoli cheese casserole, ready to be covered for the freezer)

You can thaw a casserole overnight in the refrigerator but most casseroles can also be baked right from frozen. Be sure you are using freezer to oven safe dishes or opt for disposable foil pans that make clean up a breeze.

To bake place frozen casserole in preheated oven uncovered. Or partially thaw at room temp or overnight in the refrigerator.

Baking times for casseroles from frozen:

1 qt. 1 hour 15min
2 qt. 1.5- 2 hours
3 qt. 2-2.5 hours

Other tips:

When using noodles in a casserole undercook them slightly as they will finish cooking during re-heating.
Freeze topping separately and add during the last 40 min of baking.

Soups and Sauces:

Store soups in individual or small serving sizes to safely thaw quickly. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or place in cold water for about 15 minutes and then heat in a pan or microwave.

(Soups frozen flat will thaw quickly)

Store sauces, extra broth, or juices in ice cube trays so you can easily portion out what you need

(sauce for short ribs frozen in easy access and portioned ice cube trays)

Make-Ahead Meals

It’s not always easy to get meals on the table especially when you are tired after a long busy day. As I am getting ready to have a baby soon I am happy to share some of my secrets to Make-Ahead Meal Success.

Make-ahead meals are essential to any kitchen that feeds a busy lifestyle. When you have a few tried and true meals that are always ready to go you will never worry about what is for dinner again.

Make-ahead meals work best when they are in the portion size you need, so they defrost quickly and are at the point of “heat and serve”. Not to say that crock-pot meals do not fall into this category but the problem with crock-pot meals is they still require lots of advance thought, allowing them to thaw and cook for 6-8 hours. Our goal is to eliminate all extra thought and work to the absolute minimum, because when you are running late and hungry – it is already too late. The secret to success is in the storage and packaging of items for easy use.

These techniques are perfect to help those tired new moms, gifts for those who are sick, and anyone with a busy lifestyle who wants to get a homemade dinner on the table quickly.

Soups Storage:

(individually packaged frozen soups)

Homemade soup and chili are great to have on hand. Storing them flat in individual servings makes for quick thawing and saves space in the freezer by stacking them.

Try my Creamy Tomato Basil Soup.

Ready-Made Meals for One or Many:

(Frozen Lasagna Rolls)

As an entrée I love to have Lasagna Rolls on hand as they are simple enough for children and fancy enough for a dinner party.

The key is to make and freeze in individual portions you can take out just enough for one or enough for a party if needed.

Complete Meal with No Dishes:

Some days just the thought of “what’s for dinner” can be too much. It’s great to have a few Complete Meal options ready to go that are just “heat and serve”. Even better portion these into foil pans so you don’t even have to worry about extra dishes.

Chicken and Broccoli Cheese Casserole is a perfect ready-made complete meal.

(Label, date and put cooking instructions on freezer packages for easy use)

Always label and date the package so you know what it is but I suggest taking it one step further and writing the cooking instructions directly on the package so you don’t have to think about it later making for easy husband help.

Dessert: Apple Pie in an Instant

I always make the apple pies for my family holidays but the last thing I want to do when I have a newborn baby is chop apples.

(Apple pie baked and prep for freezer apple pie)

So instead my pies are actually already prepared. You can buy apples when they are fresh and on sale getting the best quality and saving money, then mix the filling in advance and freeze it separately. Again I freeze it flat so it thaws quickly the only thing I need to do is dump this in a piecrust and put it in the oven. I will never prepare just one pie; I always process enough apples for at least 2-3 so I can have homemade pies whenever I need them.

(Apple Pie, get the recipe here).

quick thawing

Three Safe Ways to Thaw Food Quickly