How to Thaw Pork Chops Fast

Last Updated on January 4, 2021 by cmoarz

Since you are likely in a hurry, click here for instructions on how to thaw pork chops fast. Otherwise.. Hello! Looks like some people were in a hurry, probably forgot dinner. What a shame, But they’re gone now. SO hello!

Let’s get right into the nitty gritty. You forgot to take out the pork chops to thaw and dinner is in 20 minutes. You need to defrost that pork as quickly as possible, But you need to do it safely so you don’t accidentally kill your family.

Whoa, that escalated quickly! But it’s true, That’s how serious food born illness is. So please always use caution when thawing frozen pork or any other sort of meat. With that said…

What is the best way to thaw frozen pork chops fast?

The microwave is the fastest way to thaw our your pork chops in a short time frame. Less than 2 minutes depending on the size of your chop.

The trick is to make sure you aren’t accidentally cooking random spots of your pork chop from uneven microwave heating. Here’s how you do that:

  • No need to change your power settings with this method, Leave it on 100% (if you notice grey spots flip more frequently).
  • Place a single piece of frozen pork on the edge of the plate, if theirs a second piece, place it on the opposite side. Size dictates how many you can do at the same time.
  • Set the microwave to 5 minutes
  • Every 30 seconds rearrange, flip and twist the pork chops to avoid hot spots and cooking. Your flip and twist configurations will vary on a case by case basis. Use your best judgment.
  • Eventually, your frozen pork chops should be nice and thawed with no cooked spots.

This method really isn’t so great unless you’re in a hurry. The method really does affect the taste and substance of the pork chop, but it’s still edible.

Just remember if you defrost in this way, you must cook and eat it right away. The microwave will cause the pork to go above 40f which will allow bacterial growth.

Is it OK to thaw pork chops in hot water?

Yes! According to the USDA, thawing pork chips fast in hot water is safe to do.

—one-inch steaks, chops, and chicken breasts—thawing in hot water can be done in as little as 10 minutes without reducing the quality of the meat.

Lifehacker via src USDA

It was once believed this was a dangerous method, But since the hot water is able to thaw the meat in under 10 minutes, not only does it remain safe but keeps the quality and texture of the pork intact.

So if you have a little more time than the microwave people, You can opt into this option to thaw frozen pork chops fast!

Heres how to do it:

  • Put hot water (37f – 40f) into a plastic container
  • Add meat to airtight sealed bag, do not stack
  • keep fully submerged, agitating often to avoid cold spots
  • Cook right away

How long does it take to thaw frozen pork chops

With the microwave method, it will depend on the size of the pork chop. Big thick cuts with bone will take much longer than small thin cuts with no bone. The time could be anywhere between 2 minutes and 5 minutes.

With the hot water method, Assuming we follow USDA directives and only use 37F – 40F temperature water, under 10 minutes for a 1-inch cut.

Can you thaw pork directly in water?

You could but you shouldn’t. You will end up missing on all those great juicy juices and just end up replacing them with water. Overall, your meat will be soggy and flavorless, and colorless.

Nevertheless, it will still remain edible.

Is it OK to defrost meat in the sun?

No, no, nonono, don’t do this. That’s like setting up a meaty petri dish and inviting everyone to the party. This will poison you, it will poison your family and it will poison your guests.

By the time the inside of the meat has thawed, the outside will be teeming with icky reproducing bacteria. Just a bad idea all around.

Conclusion

We hope you were able to get your dinner done in time, and it was delicious and none-poisoned. We also hope learning how to thaw pork chops fast helped you out tonight in the kitchen.

That microwave trick can be used on just about anything by the way. So don’t hesitate to test it out!

pork chop
“pork chop” by stu_spivack is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

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