When we want to defrost products, it can take a long time and we usually run out of time. In fact, the safest way to defrost food is to leave it in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours. However, there is a trick that would reduce this time.
Discover how to defrost your products easily and quickly with this tip.
A glass in the microwave – Source: spm
Whether you want to reheat frozen pizza or defrost ground beef for dinner, using the microwave is a quick and easy option for defrosting food straight from the freezer. All you need to do is use the right pan, set a low power setting to cook your food evenly, and make sure you do it properly and safely to avoid contaminating your food.
Thawing food at room temperature outside the refrigerator is usually the most recommended method and is the only option for defrosting fish. The disadvantage of this method is that it is very slow. And we don’t always have 24 hours to wait for products to be ready to eat. Another alternative is to defrost food by submerging it in water. It is a little faster than the previous option. But to do it safely, you have to do it with cold water. And this delays the product reaching room temperature.
The fastest option remains, which is to defrost the food in the microwave. Simply place a glass of water in the device next to the food you want to defrost. The water in the glass will attract most of the waves, allowing the product to receive the waves evenly, thus avoiding cooking the corners or most exposed parts of the food that can burn.
A dish in the microwave – Source: spm
It is also recommended to add a little water or oil to the food so that it defrosts evenly.
Finally, special attention must be paid to defrosting time. Ideally, when defrosting food in the microwave , do so in two-minute increments. Using a microwave oven to heat certain foods can affect their nutritional value. It is not recommended to defrost meat in the microwave, for example, if you do not intend to cook it immediately. If, on the other hand, you prepare it as soon as you take it out of the microwave, there is no contraindication.
Do frozen foods lose their nutritional value? What experts say about it
The director of the American Center for Food Research and Development (CIAD), Fernando Ayala Zavala, says that there are many myths about frozen foods, so it is necessary to have adequate information about it.
Recognize that frozen foods lose their nutritional value, yes, but that this process is slower than when the products are refrigerated or stored at room temperature. Therefore, food spoils more when it is at room temperature, while freezing slows down this spoilage process.
However, it is recommended to consume fresh fruits and vegetables, since when they are sold frozen they may contain chemical preservatives that allow them to maintain a better appearance. Freezing them degrades their flavor and affects their texture. This is because low temperatures do not allow the aroma and flavor compound to be perceived, which is also lost during the thawing process.
Therefore, it is important to follow these instructions carefully to maintain the freshness and quality of the food you want to defrost.