MUST we completely THAW frozen meat B4 cooking?

Question

is it very important to completely thaw it all the way thru ? and if so, WHY?

I realize it may cook unevenly, but is it okay for, like, a crock pot recipe where it's going to cook all day anyway?

Wow! Thanx for those answers so far! I've ALWAYS thawed meat & poultry out completely in the past! What a waste of time & tenderness! I had no idea!

Thanks for All your answers; it's really hard to choose a best one cuz I've learned & gotten a lot of good ideas from all your personal experiences, but I'm choosing one that's kinda most on-target & clear to me.

Answer 1

It's always a good idea to use a thermometer when you cook meat. You need to know the temperature for the type and cut of meat you're preparing. You want to cook all meat to the right temperature that will kill bacteria. If meat is partially frozen, you may have some pieces that are thoroughly cooked and some that aren't.
Also, thawing meat in hot water is not a good idea but you can thaw it in cold water. You have to change the water every 30 minutes. As far as crock pot cooking, it tastes better when you brown the meat beforehand. That may be a bit harder to do when it's still frozen.
Most crockpot directions call for thawing meat before cooking it. I wouldn't take chances with food preperation. People get sick from food born illnesses that could easily be prevented with proper cooking.

Answer 2

Well if you are cooking hamburger meat it is ok to cook frozen, just cook on low heat and keep checking on it, pick with a fork and keep breaking away the cooked meat until all of the meat is cooked. Now with other meats you may want to out in the microwave on defrost. Usually your microwave will tell you how long to set your defrost at. Another method is to fill your sink up with cold water and let your meat sit in for a few hours, do not put it in hot water, it will make your meat cook uneven and possibly spoil it. But I would thaw it a bit before cooking in crock pot, not all the way but some. That way you will know your meat is thawed in the middle.

Answer 3

the last place you will cook unthawed meat is in the crock pot,no,no,no.and never cook chicken unthawed,, but if you are going to roast in the oven that's ok for roasts, but why not take your meat out of the freezer the night before and put it in the Refrigerator over night it should thaw that why.

Answer 4

No! Some meats do best cooking from frozen, like bison steaks. Hamburgers can be nicely BBQ'd from frozen. Slow cooking - I throw meat/poultry in frozen anyway!

Answer 5

The reason is the uneven cooking, you can just reduce the temperature and cook for longer, also you can use a covered dish, which lets you cook longer and won't dry out meats as fast or burn as fast.

Answer 6

Not at all a must. It will indeed cook unevenly but as long as it is all the way cooked so you dont get sick your good to go.

Answer 7

i simmer cold frozen 1lb ground turkey with a bit of water, till it softens and thaws on the stove. i rather do that than microwave it. i always get burnt spots. and after it softens i then raise the heat a bit and begin cooking.....

Answer 8

No. It'll finish thawing while cooking.

Answer 9

I completely thaw chicken, pork and beef for cooking.

Fish, I bake frozen.

I don't know the reason why, that's what my Mom did/does.

Answer 10

quick way to do it is to fill your sink up with hot water and put the meat (still in the wrapper) in the water. It will be ready to cook in under 45 minutes.