When thawing meat in cold water, why must one change the water regularly?

When thawing meat in cold water, why must one change the water regularly? - Ice Formation

When thawing meat in cold water, why must one change the water regularly? I've heard two contradictory explanations:

  1. The water warms to match room temperature, which is unsafe.
  2. The water cools to match the meat, and no longer thaws it efficiently.

Which is true? Or is it something else entirely?



Best Answer

The second one.

If you tried it, you'd see ... it becomes ice water




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Quick Answer about "When thawing meat in cold water, why must one change the water regularly?"

  • The water warms to match room temperature, which is unsafe.
  • The water cools to match the meat, and no longer thaws it efficiently.


  • Why do you change water when thawing meat?

    If the bag leaks, bacteria from the air or surrounding environment could be introduced into the food. Also, the meat tissue may absorb water, resulting in a watery product. The bag should be submerged in cold tap water, changing the water every 30 minutes so it continues to thaw.

    Is thawing meat in cold water safe?

    Meat can be safely thawed in cold, not hot, water. Be sure to thaw meat in a leak-proof package or bag. Submerge the bag in cold water, changing water every 30 minutes so that is stays cold. It is important to keep the meat out of the food spoilage temperature range of 70\xb0 to 100\xb0F.

    Why does cold water thaw faster?

    Their conclusion: The best way to thaw frozen meat or fish is to put it in cold water. You have to wrap the food in plastic, of course, to keep the water out of the food, but water will thaw food quickly and effectively. The reason for this is simple: Water conducts heat better than air.

    Does cold water defrost faster than hot water?

    Hot water should always defrost things faster than cold water. That's because the rate of heat flow between two objects always increases as the temperature difference between them increases.




    Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

    Images: Simon Berger, Andrea Schettino, Frederik Sørensen, Mark Neal