To defrost ribs quickly, I recommend you place the ribs in a sealed bag and submerge it in warm water.
Change the water every 20 minutes to keep it warm and keep doing this until the ribs are thawed.
This method is quicker than using the fridge.
❄️ Cooking Ribs from Frozen
I've learned that cooking ribs from frozen isn't the best idea. Thawing them first not only ensures they cook safely, it preserves their flavor.
The optimal approach for cooking frozen ribs is thawing them overnight in the refrigerator. Use the water thaw method if you're short on time.
🥩 Microwave Defrosting
It's safe. But gotta do it right to avoid uneven cooking. Put ribs in microwave-safe dish, use defrost setting, and rotate them often.
You should grill 'em right after defrosting to prevent bacteria and to get an evenly cooked steak.
The problem with the microwave thaw method is that some sections of the ribs will actually start to cook as other parts are still thawing.
⌛ Time to Defrost
It typically takes around 8 to 12 hours to defrost ribs in the refrigerator. Starting the thaw process the night before you plan to cook them works well.
If you're in a hurry, you can use the water thaw method, which usually takes about 1 to 3 hours. The size of the ribs and temperature of the water determines how long it takes.
🍴 Defrosting Cooked Ribs
For cooked ribs the microwave is your best option. 8-10 minutes on the defrost setting is enough for most meal-ready meats.
Just make sure you store it in a microwave safe container and plan to finish the meal. Freezing it again is not recommended by the USDA due to risk of harmful bacteria growth.
