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The best and the safest way to defrost frozen pork chops is to leave them to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. This, however, takes a bit of meal-prep foresight. Fortunately, you can still make dinner on time even if the chops are in the freezer when you get home. With cold water and a microwave, you have 2 quick, safe ways to defrost ice-cold chops in a pinch.
Steps
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Prepare a bowl with cold tap water. Temperature is key when it comes to safely defrosting frozen food; the water should always be in the cold range. Fill the bowl to a water level that will allow you to fully submerge the pork chops.
- Bacteria multiplies more rapidly starting at 40°F so using cold water only keeps the pork chops below this temperature.
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Wrap the pork chops in leak-proof packaging. You can wrap the pork chops individually or if the cuts are stacked, place them together as one in a resealable plastic bag. Such protective packaging will prevent any water from reaching the meat and potentially introducing bacteria from the air.Advertisement
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Submerge the pork chops into the cold bath. You will want to keep the water from reaching room temperature, so switch it out every 20 to 30 minutes with more cold water. [1] X Research source
- You could also place the bowl under a running tap, though this way will waste water.
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Remove pork chops from the cold bath as they thaw out. Expect the individually wrapped chops to thaw in about 30 minutes. For stacked chops, the top and bottom pieces will defrost first. Once thawed, break away these pieces and transfer them to the refrigerator. Reseal the remaining chops and submerge them in the cold bath again. [2] X Research source
- Once thawed in cold water, pork chops must be cooked before you can freeze them again.
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Place unwrapped pork chops evenly on a microwave-safe plate. If you have one pork chop, make sure it's in the center. If you have three, divide the plate into three equal parts. To help a microwave thaw more evenly, remove any packaging.
- If the pork chops are different sizes, place the smaller or thinner ones in the center of the plate as the edges of a carousel are the hottest. [3] X Research source
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Use the 30% (low) or 50% (medium) power setting for 2 minutes. Microwaves vary when it comes to power and efficiency. The "high" or regular setting for any microwave though would be too powerful for thawing.
- The "defrost" setting on a microwave is equal to 30-50% power. [4] X Research source
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Turn the pork chops; thaw for another 2 minutes. Because microwaves cook unevenly, you should flip and also rotate the pork chops to help with heat distribution. Use a fork or a pair of chopsticks to handle the chops and continue the process until the chops are thawed, which could take 5-10 minutes depending on how many pieces you have.
- If the chops are stacked, start with 30-second bursts and separate the pieces into a single layer as soon as you can.
- The edges of the pork chops may begin to cook during this process.
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Remove the thawed pork chops from the microwave and prepare to cook. Because food thawed in the microwave should be cooked immediately, you'll want to defrost your pork chops 10 or so minutes before you're ready to cook, grill, or roast them. [5] X Research source
- As with cold-bath thawing, you can safely refreeze the pork chops after cooking.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow long does pork chops take to defrost?Chef Sasha Reyes is the Executive Chef and Owner of Artisan Personal Chefs. With over 20 years of food industry experience, she specializes in private dinner parties, custom sports nutrition plans for professional athletes, and cooking lessons. Chef Reyes graduated from Arizona Culinary Institute in 2011 with a degree in Culinary Arts, Baking, and Restaurant Management.It takes anywhere between 20 minutes to an hour for pork chops to defrost—it really depends on the thickness, though.
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Tips
- Thawing frozen meat or chicken in the refrigerator is the safest approach. Size determines how long the thawing should take, but for pork chops, overnight should be sufficient time. By comparison, a whole turkey takes 1 to 3 days to thaw. [6] X Research sourceThanks
- When thawing in a refrigerator, note that the bottom shelf is the coldest for fridge freezers while the top section is coldest for refrigerators with ice makers. [7] X Research sourceThanks
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Warnings
- Never leave perishable foods, like frozen pork chops, to defrost on the counter. Doing so leaves food vulnerable to bacteria, which could lead to foodborne illness.Thanks
- Do not leave perishable foods from the refrigerator or freezer at room temperature for more than 2 hours. [8] X Trustworthy Source FoodSafety.gov Online portal combining food safety information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Food Safety and Inspection Service, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Go to sourceThanks
- Be sure to use soap to wash your hands, as well as any utensils and surfaces that may come in contact with the uncooked chops during the thawing process. [9] X Trustworthy Source FoodSafety.gov Online portal combining food safety information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Food Safety and Inspection Service, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Go to sourceThanks
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Things You'll Need
- large bowl (or pot)
- water
- leak-proof plastic bags
- microwave
- microwave-safe plate
- fork or chopsticks
References
- ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/cooking-tips-techniques/preparation/how-to-quickly-thaw-meat
- ↑ https://oureverydaylife.com/fastest-way-can-defrost-frozen-pork-chops-21987.html
- ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/cooking-tips-techniques/preparation/how-to-quickly-thaw-meat
- ↑ https://products.geappliances.com/appliance/gea-support-search-content?contentId=18763
- ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/safe_microwave_defrosting
- ↑ https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/solutions/safely-thawing-turkey/
- ↑ https://www.sciencefocus.com/science/where-is-the-coldest-part-of-the-fridge-the-bottom-or-the-top/
- ↑ https://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/basics/chill/index.html
- ↑ https://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/basics/clean/index.html
About This Article
Article Summary
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The best way to defrost your frozen pork chops is to leave them in the fridge overnight. However, if you’re pressed for time, you can defrost them in water. Just put the pork chops in a sealable bag and submerge them in a bowl of cold water. If your pork chops are stacked, separate them as soon as you can so they defrost quicker. It should take individual pork chops about 30 minutes to defrost, but if it takes longer, replace the water with cold water to keep it at the right temperature. Alternatively, place your pork chops unwrapped on a plate and microwave them on a low or defrost setting for 2 minutes at a time. Flip them each time so they thaw evenly. This should take between 5 and 10 minutes. For more tips, including how to easily separate stacked pork chops, read on!
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