How can I defrost hamburger meat in the microwave?

Question

Is this safe?

Answer 1

Of course it is safe. Microwaves cook meat so all you are really doing is defrosting/cooking it. Now if you defrost/cook it and then leave it out forever and then try to cook it and eat it, I can't speak too much about that.

Answer 2

DON'T....Unless the microwave has a defrost timer. You'll wind up cooking the meat. Nothing is worse (to me) than cooked hamburger meat in the microwave. Have you heard that you can now purchase FROZEN hamburger meat that is separated???? It saves the trouble of defrosting. It's only good if you want to cook the hamburger in something else or with something else (chilli, taco's, etc.) Not good if you want just a plain hamburger. This is what I do. When I buy hamburger meat, I break up the package and use heavy alum foil. I make patties (good size for burgers), roll some for meat balls, and keep some in lumps for chili or other dishes). I freeze them and pull them out when needed. Even if it's frozen, I put the burger on the grill or in the skillet on low and season it and put the cover on and it cooks nice and slow, allowing the season to blend in. Then you don't have to use a microwave.

Answer 3

If you are stuck doing it this way, what I usually do is defrost it a little at a time then take off the defrosted meat as the time goes on (stopping the microwave in between, of course). Otherwise, even on defrost, the hamburger will cook.

Answer 4

Does your microwave have a "defrost meat" setting? If not, I would put it on the lowest possible setting, and keep turning it and checking it. You don't want the edges or part of it to start cooking. Much better off to leave it out of the fridge all day. I have a wonderful "slate" type thing I bought in Walgreens for a few dollars. You warm up the slate with hot water and set the frozen meat on it. It's like a miracle! Meat defrosts very very quickly. Hope this helps!

Answer 5

While it is safe to defrost meat in the microwave you wind up cooking the meat to some degree because of uneven thaw. The only way to make a dinner that does not taste like it has been double cooked is to thaw meat in the refrigerator or in tepid water. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

I prefer to defrost my hamburger in a sink bath of cold water, put the meat in a zip top type bag and in the sink, fill with enough cold water to cover the package, turning over the package occasionally.

but you can thaw in the microwave, but it might "cook" the meat if thaw time is too long. Keep a close eye in it.

Answer 7

I usually defrost for a min, scrape off the surface in to pan I want to cook it in, that way it doesn't get fully cooked in the microwave. Then I put the rest of the frozen portion back in the microwave and repeat as necessary.

Answer 8

I always leave it out over night in the fridge and if I have forgotten I put hot water in the sink and put the package of meat in the water. It will thaw out. I don't like to use the microwave because if it is in there too long then it starts cooking.

Answer 9

Of course it's safe. Why wouldn't it be ?
I do it all the time. Isn't there a defrost button on your microwave ?
Just use that button that's why they put it there.

Answer 10

if you plan to use it right away you should be ok..just defrost it for like 6-8 minutes depends on the microwave..