Best Ways to Defrost Meatballs (For best result)
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If you’ve ever cooked meat without properly defrosting it, then you will notice that the meat edges are cooked but the center stays undercooked. You would not want to serve such dishes to yourselves let alone guests. Only adapting to the best ways to defrost meatballs can fix such problems.
Meatballs can be defrosted either traditionally or with kitchen gadgets. The most preferred way to defrosting is the running water method that flows water over the frozen meat to defrost. Microwave and hot water baths are also used to defrost traditionally. Thaw claw, water circulating faucets, and defrosting trays, such kitchen gadgets also help defrost faster.
You need to consider proper temperature and time management for defrosting. Based on the time you have and your kitchen comfort, your best ways to defrost meatballs might vary. To help you decide your best, this article will walk you through some of the best ways to defrost meatballs.
What are the Best Traditional Methods to Defrost?
Four traditional methods are used for defrosting frozen meat. I’ve explained how each of these methods works in detail below:
• Refrigerating
• Microwave
• Running Water
• Hot Water
Here is a video of how to thaw food safely:
Refrigerating
It is a time-consuming process but it is one of the safest methods to thaw or defrost frozen meatballs. If you are good with time management then this can be your go-to method for defrosting.
Simply take out your meatballs from the freezer and place them in the refrigerator. Meatballs are small cut, so it will not take a whole day to defrost them in the refrigerator, unlike large cut meats.
It should take about 8 to 12 hours to defrost meatballs in the refrigerator.
This method requires a little bit of planning on your side. If you want to cook the meatballs at night, then simply keep them in the refrigerator in the morning. And by the night, it should be ready to be cooked without leaving any trace of ice.
This method prevents bacteria from building up in the meatballs because the meatballs get defrosted at a cool temperature.
Microwave
Some microwaves come with the defrost button and it only should take 10 to 20 minutes to defrost small cut meatballs in it. However, once defrosted, you need to cook them immediately. Otherwise, microwave heat would begin to make them soggy.
First, place your meatballs in a storage bag. And then press the defrost button once you keep them in the microwave. If it doesn’t have a defrost button, set your microwave at its 20 percent power and set the timer for 10 minutes. After every 5 minutes, turn or flip your meat to ensure even defrosting.
Running Water
It is one of the most preferred ways to defrost frozen meat. If you plan not to cook defrosted meat immediately then you should consider using this method.
Fill your sink with water and then submerge the meatball packages in the water, under a running faucet. If you skip the running faucet part, then defrosting will take more time than it is supposed to.
Running water produces more collisions on the surface of the meatballs. And it brings warmer water molecules in contact with the meatballs. Therefore, the running water method defrosts meat faster.
This method keeps your meatballs free from bacterial build-up during the defrosting process. And it enables the meatballs to remain fresh even after an hour of defrosting. So, if that is what you are looking for, this method will not let you down.
Hot Water
You can give the meatballs a hot water bath to defrost them quickly. However, in this method, you need to be careful so that the meatballs do not get cooked while following the process.
You should heat water at 140° F or 58° C. Once the water is hot enough, place the meatballs in a Ziploc or storage bag. And then submerge the bags in the water. It shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes to defrost in this way. This method is a good substitute if you do not have a microwave to defrost.
Some Kitchen Gadgets to Defrost Meatballs
Technology never ceases to amaze with its time-saving devices. And such is the case as well when it comes to defrosting meats. Some kitchen gadgets have been devised to help you out if you are not quite a fan of the traditional methods.
Here are some gadgets to defrost meatballs
Boss Defrost Appliance (Water Circulating Faucet)
If you are fed up with increased water bills then you will definitely love this appliance. Because it reduces your water bill by using up way less water than the traditional running water method of defrosting.
It is required to be submerged underwater for defrosting meat. And its cable needs to be plugged into a GFI/GFCI outlet. Do not worry, the cable and the faucet have been designed in a way to ensure utmost electrical safety.
First, you need to fill in water in a sink or basin. Then submerge the meatballs and the lower part of this gadget in water. And then the faucet of the appliance will run water over the meatballs to defrost them. It shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes to do so.
To defrost meatballs, the water temperature needs to be under 21°C/71F. Otherwise, a higher temperature can make the meatballs soggy. This appliance has a thermometer integrated, to help you monitor the correct temperature- required to defrost the meatballs.
This machine circulates water rather than using and draining more and more water to defrost. Therefore, it saves up water and reduces your water bill. Otherwise, the traditional running water method wastes gallons of potable water while defrosting.
This gadget saves you from all the hassle you go through while defrosting meatballs traditionally. So, consider adapting to this product at your home or restaurants.
Thaw Claws
This kitchen gadget can defrost your meatballs 7 times faster than any other traditional method. This is a lightweight underwater gadget to keep the frozen food packages fully submerged to fasten the defrosting process. It approximately takes 20 minutes to defrost with it.
When you keep frozen meatballs underwater, it keeps floating above the water instead of being fully submerged. And this is really a troublemaker because holding the meatballs submerged manually can take a hell of your energy and time. But this gadget eliminates this problem.
Attach the product underwater with its suction cup. Then simply place the frozen meatballs packages under the claws or arms of the gadget. The claws hold the package fully submerged so that it doesn’t float. The claws hold the package at a certain level of pressure to fasten the defrosting.
This gadget does not take any assembling, it is easier to use. So, get yourself this gadget if you are in a hurry to defrost meatballs with a simple to handle gadget.
Defrosting Tray
If you do not want to use water or microwave then a defrosting tray should be on your preference list. This tray uses “heat conduction” to evenly transfer the warmth around frozen food to defrost faster.
This tray is made of food-grade aluminum- which keeps the tray warm enough to defrost meat. Just place the frozen meatballs on the tray and approximately in 1 hour the meatballs should be thawed and ready to be cooked.
If you have at least 1 hour to spare then defrosting meatballs on it won’t be a hassle. Also, this tray needs no assembling and is easy to clean after defrosting.
Conclusion
These are the best ways to defrost meatballs. It is unlikely that based on your needs and situation every method will be beneficial for you. But with the list of ways I’ve provided, I’m sure you will find something to your liking.
