GUIDE TO DEFROSTING FOOD IN A MICROWAVE
Microwaves skyrocketed in popularity decades ago thanks to their ability to reheat food and defrost frozen items. Today, they are still important parts of our kitchen and cooking process.
It sometimes feels like our microwaves are the appliance that’s easiest to use. While this might be true, defrosting in a microwave takes more than simply pressing a sequence of buttons. You need to understand the common steps and how to do them properly.
This article will guide you through how to defrost most items in your microwave and how to ensure you are doing so in a way that won’t harm the food.
CAN YOU DEFROST FOOD IN A MICROWAVE?
You can defrost various meats, poultry, produce, bread and fish in most microwaves. Whatever you’re thawing, the defrost process may vary per model and often requires the exclusive use of microwave-safe dishes or bowls.
IS IT SAFE TO USE A MICROWAVE TO DEFROST?
You can safely thaw most foods in a microwave. To ensure thawed food is safe for consumption, you must fully cook it right after defrosting.
According to the USDA, improper defrosting or not immediately cooking defrosted or half-cooked foods can cause bacterial growth and compromise their safety. Never defrost food that has been kept at room temperature for 20 minutes or longer. If this happens, an alternative is to slowly defrost the food in a bowl of cold water or the fridge.
USING A MICROWAVE TO DEFROST MEAT, FISH, SOUP AND PRODUCE IN A MICROWAVE
A microwave is a useful shortcut to defrost certain foods, especially when you’re dealing with a packed schedule.
To defrost common foods like meat, fish, soup and produce, you’ll need:
Supplies
- Microwave-safe containers: glass containers, long-term-use plastic containers, plain paper plates and microwave-safe zipper-top bags.
OPTIONAL TOOLS
Timer
Kitchen scale
STEP 1: TAKE FOOD OUT OF ITS PACKAGING
You should never microwave food that is in its original packaging. Start by removing food from its packaging and place it in a microwave-safe container, like a glass container.
Before choosing a container for defrosting, review the manufacturer or owner’s manual for microwave safety and use to confirm compatibility.
STEP 2: SELECT THE DEFROST OPTION
Some types of microwaves may require you to input the weight or choose one of the options that can effectively defrost food. Check the packaging of the food you intend to defrost or break out a kitchen scale to determine a food’s weight.
If your microwave doesn’t feature a defrost icon, you can manually adjust the power levels to cook at 20–30% of its full power. Another option is to refer to your owner’s manual to find more specific directions for your model.
STEP 3: SET A TIMER
Defrosting meat in the microwave typically takes 8–10 minutes per pound, but times may vary based on what you’re defrosting. Always refer to the packaging for instructions.
If you have time to spare, you can use another defrosting method, but they take longer. The two defrosting alternatives to using a microwave include:
Placing frozen food in your refrigerator
Thawing frozen food in a bowl of cold water
STEP 4: HOW TO EVENLY DEFROST FOOD
To ensure even defrosting, you may have to rotate, stir, flip, separate or break apart food.
Meats, especially, need to be periodically rotated. You may also need to break apart larger chunks that are still frozen together.
STEP 5: IMMEDIATELY COOK DEFROSTED FOOD
Don’t let defrosted food sit at room temperature for too long as this can encourage bacterial growth. A great tip to avoid leaving out uncooked or partially cooked food for too long is to prepare for the next step in your cooking process as the food defrosts in your microwave.
FOOD DEFROST TIMES BY WEIGHT
Use this general guideline to understand how long you should defrost meat based on weight. Keep in mind that it’s about 8-10 minutes per pound.
Results may vary based on the microwave model and wattage. Always check your owner’s manual for additional guidance and monitor items in the microwave as they thaw.
Review this guideline based on a 1000-watt microwave.
| Meat defrost times by weight | Approx. 8–10 minutes per pound |
|---|---|
| 1 lb | 8–10 mins |
| 1.5 lb | 12–15 mins |
| 2 lb | 16–20 mins |
| 2.5 lb | 20–25 mins |
| 3 lb | 24–30 mins |
HOW DOES A MICROWAVE DEFROST FOOD?
A magnetron is a unit in a microwave that produces high enough frequencies to heat food. The defrost setting requires less power, so a microwave cycles that magnetron on and off. Instead of operating at 100% power as a microwave does for its other modes, the defrost setting lowers power levels by 20%–30% to quickly thaw food short of cooking it.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO DEFROST FOOD IN THE MICROWAVE?
Review your owner’s manual or the instructions on frozen food packaging to confirm the right defrost microwave setting, considering the weight and food type. Meats, excluding seafood, typically take the longest—about 8–10 minutes per pound. Frozen fruits and vegetables may only take around 2–3 minutes.
MICROWAVE DEFROSTING VS. OTHER DEFROSTING METHODS
In addition to thawing in a microwave, other defrosting methods are available but need more time and planning.
One thawing method is the refrigerator. How long it will take to thaw food in a fridge depends on the food. Smaller foods, such as a couple of chicken breasts may need at least 24 hours to defrost while larger items, like a whole turkey, may require several days, so you’ll have to plan. Some variables to consider while planning are cold spots in your refrigerator and how models set at 35°F rather than at 40°F will result in longer thaw times.
Another method is cold water thawing. This is often quicker than thawing in a refrigerator. Keep in mind that you will have to monitor in case the bag leaks, which could introduce bacteria into other food. Thawing will take several hours and you should change the water every 30 minutes.
While there are several options, microwave thawing is generally the fastest and can help you start cooking an amazing dinner in only a few minutes.
TIPS FOR MICROWAVE DEFROSTING
To achieve the best results, always follow the instructions on frozen food packaging
Cook your food immediately after it’s defrosted
You can re-freeze food after it's been cooked
Always use microwave-safe containers for thawing out foods.
Confirm that the containers you use can handle certain temperatures
Follow the prompts on select microwaves that remind you to move around, flip or break apart food to help achieve a consistent thaw.
Effectively clean your microwave every time after defrosting and thawing foods.
Shop KitchenAid®Microwaves
Ignite your culinary passion with versatile appliances from KitchenAid brand. Shop for the KitchenAid® Microwave that can help you make your favourite meals and discover new techniques and possibilities along the way. Select from countertop microwaves to microwave hood combinations equipped with innovative features like Grill Mode, Convection Mode and Air Fry Mode.
Learn More About Microwaves with KitchenAid brand
-
Microwave w/ Vent Or. Range Hood: Which is Right? | KitchenAid Should you buy a microwave with vent or a range hood? This guide will walk you through the pros and cons to each. -
Microwave Sizes Guide: Find The Perfect Fit Looking to upgrade your microwave? The right fit depends on your available space. Get started with our guide.
