There comes a point in time when you realise that you are supposed to prepare ground beef for dinner and you haven’t defrosted it. You start thinking to yourself “do I have to defrost ground beef before cooking?” The answer to that is simple no, you do not have to necessarily defrost ground beef before cooking it. You can simply cook it using the methods highlighted in the article below. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that ground beef should never be defrosted. In fact defrosted ground beef that is cooked tastes better than the frozen one this is because it can be seasoned well, you can’t season frozen ground beef until it is fully cooked.
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How to cook frozen ground beef
Cook frozen ground beef using an instant pot
If you forgot to defrost your ground beef then the best way to cook your frozen ground beef is by placing it inside the instant pot. This is actually the fastest and easiest way of cooking your ground beef. The best way of using the instant pot to cook your ground beef is by steaming it. To do this simply place a cup of water in the instant pot. The next step is to place 2 pounds of ground beef on a trivet and insert it to the instant pot. Close the lid of the instant pot and let the ground beef cook for about 25 minutes on high pressure.
Cook frozen ground beef using a stove
This is also another method that you can use to cook your frozen ground beef. However, it takes a longer time to cook the ground beef on the stove. In order to use the stove method simply take a skillet then add a little bit of water, just enough to cover the surface of the skillet. Take the ground beef and place it inside. When the water starts to boil you will notice that the outside of the ground beef will start to brown, scrap off those parts and reveal the uncooked pink layer on the inside so that it can also defrost. As you do this make sure you also place the lid on top of the skillet this will help heat to circulate and ensure that the meat cooks evenly. Only remove the lid when you want to scrap of the meat using a spatula.
Cook frozen ground beef using a pressure cooker
This method is quick and easy to use when cooking frozen ground beef. To cook frozen ground beef using the pressure cooker simply place the ground beef on a steaming rack and place water inside the pressure cooker. The ground beef should cook for about 25 to 30 minutes in the pressure cooker.
Cook frozen beef using a sous vide
This is also another easy method that you can use to cook your frozen ground beef. To use this method simply take the ground beef out of the freezer and submerge it into water. Make sure the ground beef is packed in freezer bags. Turn on the sous vide to 137 degrees Fahrenheit’s and start cooking your ground beef. It can take approximately 2 hour to cook the frozen ground beef but it will totally be worth it. When the ground beef is ready you can use it any way you like.
Cook frozen ground beef using an oven
This method is ideal only if your ground beef is in the shape of hamburger patties. When using the oven to cook ground beef simply start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. Take a baking sheet and grease it with oil. The next thing is to take the ground beef patties and line them inside the baking sheet. Let the patties cook for about an hour in the oven or until you start noticing that they are cooked all the way through.
How to defrost ground beef before cooking
Defrost ground beef in the fridge
The first method that you can use to defrost your ground beef is by placing it inside the refrigerator. So you just need to simply take it out of the freezer and transfer it into the refrigerator. Defrosting ground beef in the refrigerator usually takes 1 or 2 days depending on the quantity of ground beef you are defrosting. This method works well if you are someone who plans their meals therefore, when you know that you want to cook ground beef you simply transfer it. The advantage of using this method is that the ground beef will not get exposed to bacteria because bacteria usually likes affecting foods which are at room temperature.
Defrost ground beef in the microwave
This is also another method that you can use to defrost your ground beef. It is very fast and it can take you about 5 minutes to defrost your ground beef. When defrosting ground beef simply place it on a microwave safe place and allow it defrost for 5 minutes. When the ground beef has defrosted you should cook it immediately so that it does not become too exposed to bacteria.
Defrost ground beef using cold water
If you want to defrost your ground beef you can always defrost it in water. To do this simply remove your ground beef from the freezer and place it inside an air tight freezer bag. The next thing to do is to submerge the ground beef in cold water and leave it to defrost. You can change the water every time you feel that it’s now too cold. When the ground beef has defrosted you should cook it immediately to avoid the build-up of bacteria.
Conclusion
It is possible to cook ground beef without defrosting it however, it is important to note that you cannot season ground beef that is frozen therefore once it has cooked you need to season it sufficiently. The article has given you a few tips on how to defrost ground beef and also methods that you can use to cook your frozen ground beef. Remember to always cook your ground beef once defrosted to help prevent bacteria from building up.
