Do you thaw meat on the counter?

[2BigKIdz]

I partially thaw on the counter then put in the fridge. I have on occasion forgotten the thawing meat and allowed it to thaw all the way, as long as it is still cold, it's all good, I've never caused any food poisoning.

I think thawing in the microwave is gross, and it smells funny

 

[mumom95]

I thaw in the microwave instead of the counter, but I never turn the microwave on. In the morning I put the meat on a plate and stick it in the microwave to sit all day. That way the cat or dog doesn't steal it off the countertop, and I figure the next time I use the microwave it will kill any of the germs I missed while cleaning it up.

 

[Piecey]

I don't, but it's because I've got rambunctious animals I can't control when I'm not here. The cat has a tail that causes crime!

I thaw everything in the fridge overnight, I don't even use a microwave.
If I want to make something that I didn't thaw, I go buy a package at the store for that night.

 

[Tuffcookie]

mumom95 wrote: In the morning I put the meat on a plate and stick it in the microwave to sit all day. That way the cat or dog doesn't steal it off the countertop,



Been there

TC

 

[Cindyluwho]

From the CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/enterics/publications/338-kimuraa.pdf

This article from the CDC really took me by surprise!! It won't let me copy and past parts of the article, but if you take the time to look through it, the odds of getting foodborne illness from home-cooked food is almost nil. The vast, vast majority of cases are from food eaten outside of the home. AND FROM HANDLING REPTILES!!

So, there you go!! Leave that meat out on the counter (unless you have voracious dogs)!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

It's my understanding that for bacteria to grow when meat is being thawed, the bacteria has to be on/in the meat to start with?? Yes, it can mulitply, but the the bacteria was already in the meat.

As long as you cook the meat throughly, to the correct temperature, you are fine. If you undercook it, even if it was fresh or thawed in the fridge, you could be in for some trouble.

It's kind of like the salmonella/chicken egg thing. some obscure number, like one in 2 million eggs, has the salmonella bacteria. Over 90% of those infected eggs come from New Jersey. What are the odds that I'm going to get sick from my cookie batter out here in Washington eating locally grown eggs?? Are you kidding - salmonella vs chocolate chip cookie batter ?? You might as well put Johnny Fairplay in the ring with Wladimir Klitschko
Totally worth the risk in my house.

OK, here is the deal. Bacteria is on everything including your meat.

Bacteria growing temps are above the temp of 40 and below 140. So your meat thawing on the counter is going to have a higher level of bacteria on it when you are preparing it.

Now if you cook it to the proper temp., you are going to kill the bacteria.

As far as eggs, they are pasteurized so the danger is less when it comes to bacteria, but not eliminated.

Now then you have salmonella, e-coli. This is bacteria from feces. Again it can be killed cooking to the proper temp. Ground meat has a high contamination rate when it comes to feces so that is why they suggest eating hamburgers well done.
Basically if fecal matter is on the outside of the meat and it is being ground for burgers the salmonella with be inside the meat.

I do like my eggs over easy, so I do tempt fate there.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Everything is thawed on the counter or in the sink (to prevent a certain dog from getting ahold of it). We're tried thawing things in the fridge and it takes a couple days - I don't plan that far out. Occasionally we will quick thaw under water in the sink but it sure wastes a lot of water.

We were both raised in homes that thawed on the counter, and still do, and see no reason to change the method. The chances of illness are so slim it's not worth the hassle of even thinking about for very long.

 

[Keira1387]

I also thaw in the fridge. I never put it in the microwave, like a PP said it cooks the meat some.

 

[pppiglet]

I use the microwave only because I have cats that may be tempted. If I didn't, I would use the counter. I don't see why you care what others do?

I put mine in the microwave to hide it from the cats, but just leave it in there to thaw without turning the microwave on.

 

[Anewman]

We use the Fridge, pop it in one of the fridge drawers the day b4.

I always bring meat out of fridge like an hour or two b4 cooking, always let my steak get to room temp b4 throwing it on grill.

 

[GraysMom]

I sit it meat out to thaw quite often, but I stick it in the fridge if I have to leave the house.

 

[dismom2]

I thought we'd gotten away from this practice. It's just not safe. People, use your microwaves PLEEZ!

I have set meat out on the counter to defrost for years and have been fine. If I am in a hurry I might defrost in the sink full of hot water. I've tried to microwave, but sometimes I end up cooking part of the inside.

Some people would say a microwave is not safe. Some people say non-stick pans are not safe-----the list goes on...

 

[Mermaid02]

I thaw meat on the counter- then I eat my beef RARE- my egg yolks runny and I LOVE cookie dough!

 

[eliza61]

I thought we'd gotten away from this practice. It's just not safe. People, use your microwaves PLEEZ!

I heard it wasn't safe, I admit that I still do it (hard to break a long standing habit) but I'm starting to try and use my microwave.

 

[aprilgail2]

Looks like I'm in the very small minority. I worked at restaurants all through high school and college. We were trained to never thaw on the counter. I thaw meat in the fridge, never on the counter. I guess if it was a last minute thing, I'd just buy something out of the refrigerator case at the grocery store, or just prepare a veggie meal. Overall, I'm not a germ-phobe. With food handling, I'm a major germ phobe.

I am with you- if something is not defrosted then I will just cook something else while the other items thaws in the fridge- I would never think to just leave meat or poultry sitting on a counter to thaw . Even my mother thawed in the fridge and not on a counter.

 

[dispor]

The replies to this thread are exactly why I hate porlucks! LOL!

Seriously, I NEVER thaw on the counter. I use the refrigerator, microwave or cold water in the sink (but constantly changing the water).

My mom ALWAYS thawed on the counter and as far as I KNOW I never got sick from it.

 

[paintnolish]

Another cookie dough and rare beef eating, potluck loving, counter thawing person here...like pps, if I plan in advance, I will put it in the fridge. If I really don't plan at all,I will put it in the microwave. If it is someplace in between, then it goes on the counter.