[Rapid defrosting or slow defrosting] Unsure of which method? Read the complete guide on how to defrost

What is the best way to thaw frozen food?

This is a problem that bothers many people.
In conclusion, the best way to thaw food varies depending on the food and its purpose.

There are slow thawing methods such as thawing at room temperature, low temperature, and running water, as well as rapid thawing such as in a microwave oven.

If you defrost the food incorrectly, it will lose its flavor and deliciousness.
In order to avoid mistakes, I would like to introduce the foods that are suitable for each thawing method and precautions.

How to thaw frozen food

The methods of thawing frozen foods can be broadly divided into slow thawing and rapid thawing.

Slow thawing refers to thawing methods such as room temperature thawing, low temperature thawing, and running water thawing.
Rapid defrosting refers to a method of defrosting food quickly by applying heat, such as defrosting in a microwave.

Slow thawing or rapid thawing is not necessarily better; each thawing method has its own characteristics: thawing at room temperature, thawing at low temperature, thawing under running water, and thawing in the microwave.
I will briefly explain how to unzip it.

Thawing at room temperature is the easiest method as you just need to remove it from the freezer.
Although it can defrost in a short amount of time, it is not suitable for perishable foods as there is a risk of food poisoning.

Low-temperature thawing allows you to thaw food without losing quality, so it is suitable for thawing fresh produce. The easiest and most common method of low-temperature thawing is thawing in a refrigerator.
The refrigerator maintains a stable low temperature, so food can be thawed while maintaining its quality.
However, the disadvantage is that it takes time.

The method of thawing food under running water involves sealing the food in a plastic bag and exposing it to running water. Liquid has a higher thermal conductivity than air, so it can thaw food quickly.
It can thaw food faster than low-temperature thawing, so it is suitable for thawing fresh foods that take a long time to thaw, such as thick seafood and chunks of meat.

Microwave defrosting is extremely fast, making it a good method to use when you're short on time.
Use the defrost function, or if your microwave does not have a defrost function, defrost at a low wattage of 500W.
Depending on the microwave's functions, it may be difficult to defrost evenly, so uneven thawing may occur.

There is also a method called heat thawing, which allows you to thaw and cook at the same time.
Foods that fit this rule can be cooked by boiling, baking, frying, or other heat treatments while still frozen, so they can be cooked without the time and effort of thawing.

Foods suitable for each thawing method and precautions

There are different thawing methods suitable for different foods and purposes, so we will introduce them in detail, including precautions.

Foods suitable for thawing at room temperature and precautions

Foods that are suitable for thawing at room temperature are those that are thawed and eaten as is, and those that are not affected much by thawing.

・Cooked foods: seasoned kanpyo, gomoku sushi ingredients, etc.
・Processed products: fried tofu, salted fish, etc.
・Condiments: wasabi, ginger, garlic
・Sweets: sponge cake, daifuku, etc.
・Blanched vegetables: boiled edamame, boiled fava beans
・Sauce, sauce...sesame sauce, teriyaki sauce

If you leave it at room temperature for a long time, it will thaw too much, so be careful.

Also, room temperature is around 20℃ to 25℃, which is the temperature range where bacteria can easily grow.
In particular, in the summer, the room temperature becomes high and there is a risk of food poisoning, so it is best to avoid it if you are worried.

Some foods may be dangerous from a sanitary standpoint, and thawing raw meat and seafood at room temperature is not recommended.

One trick to defrosting food quickly is to place the food you want to defrost on a metal tray. By using a metal tray with high thermal conductivity, it can be melted quickly.

Foods suitable for low temperature thawing and precautions

Foods that are suitable for low-temperature thawing are perishables whose freshness and quality tend to deteriorate.

・Meat: Steak meat, thinly sliced meat, ground meat
・Processed meats: beef tataki, miso-marinated chicken, etc.
・Fish: mackerel fillet, salmon fillet, seafood for sashimi
・Fish processing products: kettle-fried whitebait, salmon furikake, pickled lees

Thawing at low temperatures prevents bacterial growth and over-thawing, allowing you to thaw without compromising quality.

​Refrigerator thawing, a common low-temperature thawing method, requires an internal temperature of 2°C to 5°C. This allows food to be refrigerated for 1 to 2 days while protecting its quality, as it can be kept at a constant low temperature.

However, it takes time, so it is difficult to unzip and use immediately. Depending on the size, it may take 8 to 24 hours to thaw.

Another low-temperature thawing method is to use ice water.

Because liquid has a higher thermal conductivity than air, thawing food in ice water can be faster than thawing food in a refrigerator.
Ice water has the ability to keep food at around 1°C, so it can defrost food efficiently at the temperature just above where it would melt.

It is especially recommended for defrosting crabs and seafood for sashimi, which tend to lose their freshness. The flavor will deteriorate if it comes into contact with water, so thaw it in an airtight bag.

Foods suitable for thawing under running water and precautions

Foods suitable for thawing under running water are large, thick, and perishable items that take time to thaw. It is also suitable when you want to defrost a large amount of food or when you want to defrost it in a short amount of time.

・Lump meat: chicken fillet, pork, etc.
・Large processed meats...roasted chicken, etc.
・Large amounts of seafood: fenced fish, shrimp for sashimi, squid, etc.
・Large processed fish...Seared bonito, minced shrimp, etc.

Low-temperature thawing is best for thawing perishable products, but thawing under running water is more suitable for foods that take a long time to thaw or if you want to thaw them quickly.

Any type of food will lose its flavor and texture if exposed to direct water, so it must be thawed in a sealed bag. Water has a higher thermal conductivity than air, so it can dissolve quickly.

The temperature of tap water changes depending on the season, ranging from below 10 degrees Celsius in winter to over 20 degrees Celsius in summer.

Since the water temperature changes drastically, you can prevent it from thawing too much by keeping an eye on it. Depending on the size of the food, the approximate thawing time is 10 to 30 minutes.

It's best to cut sashimi when it's partially thawed, and season fish and meat when it's partially thawed, so you can bring out the flavor even more if you take it out when it's partially thawed.

In addition, for seafood that has been frozen in bulk and is to be eaten raw, we recommend thawing it in salt water.

Make approximately 1% salt water and soak the food you want to defrost.
Ideal for thawing seafood such as squid, sweet shrimp, scallops, oysters, etc. that have been frozen in bulk and treated with a glaze (ice film).

Tuna fence can be made delicious by adding about 3% salt to 40℃ warm water and thawing it in warm salt water.

Soak in warm salted water for 3 minutes, then wrap in paper towels and plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator. It prevents discoloration and allows you to eat it in good quality.

Foods suitable for thawing in the microwave and precautions

Foods that are suitable for thawing in the microwave are foods that have already been cooked or foods that need to be thawed and then heated. It is also suitable if you want to defrost it quickly.

・Commercially available frozen foods such as hamburgers, boiled hijiki, etc.
・Cooked items: soups, boiled dishes, stir-fried dishes, etc.
・Starchy foods: rice, bread

It is convenient because it can be thawed in a short time, but if you apply too much heat, it can cause over-thawing, uneven thawing, dryness, and drips.

Defrosting raw meat or seafood in the microwave is not recommended, but it is an effective method when you are short on time or in a hurry.

When defrosting raw meat or seafood in the microwave, be careful to keep an eye on the food and heat it until it is half-thawed.

A microwave oven heats food using electromagnetic waves called microwaves, but one of the characteristics of microwaves is that it is difficult to heat ice, but it is easy to heat water.

As a result, only the dissolved water is heated, resulting in uneven thawing.
Wrapping it in a paper towel will absorb any dissolved moisture, making it easier to cook evenly.

Foods suitable for heating and thawing and precautions

Foods that are suitable for heating and thawing are those that are cooked immediately after thawing. You can defrost and cook at the same time.

・Processed vegetables: vegetables such as mixed vegetables, green beans, and corn
・Cooked items: meatballs, shumai, gyoza, fried rice, pilaf, croquettes, etc.

Most frozen vegetables are already blanched, so if you want to use them as an ingredient in soups or stir-fries, you just need to quickly cook them.

On the other hand, if you overcook it, the flavor will escape and the texture will become too soft.

When grilling or stir-frying foods such as gyoza, use a large amount of oil and cook slowly.

Additionally, deep-fried foods that have been frozen with batter on them will become mushy and difficult to handle once thawed, so they will fry more beautifully if they are frozen.

If you fry at a low temperature of 160℃ to 180℃, the fire will penetrate through and fry well.

Conclusion

There are various thawing methods, each with their own merits and suitable foods.

Frozen foods include a wide variety of delicious prepared foods, as well as seafood and meat that are as high quality as fresh foods.

In order to enjoy delicious food in a delicious state, we recommend choosing the most suitable thawing method for the food.