Looking to thaw pork chops quickly? Frozen pork chops have a long-term shelf life that in a hurry makes a filling and nutritious recipe.
There are three different ways including fridge, cold water, and microwave, but which one is the fastest way to defrost pork chops?
Using refrigerator and cold water method can take between 2-12 hours to defrost pork chops. But if you do not have time to wait, then the microwave can be the best option for you.
How do you defrost pork chops in microwave? Place frozen pork chop in a microwave safe plate and cover with a lid. Microwave for 2 minutes using the defrost setting or 50% power setting, then flip the meat over and nuke for an additional 2 minutes.
Defrost the pork chop by frequently checking until there is no ice particles and all sides are at room temperature. Keep the defrost timing to a minimum as the meat will start to gradually cook even at such low temperatures.
While defrosting pork chops in a microwave, you will have to be careful as it increases the risk of contamination unless they are cooked instantly. Similar to reheating pork chop, avoid the risk of harmful food poisoning and also overheating.
In this write-up, we are going to discuss how to defrost pork chop in microwave safely. Answered below are frequently asked questions about defrosting pork chops and the best way to thaw the meat quickly.
Can you defrost pork chop in the microwave?
Yes, you can defrost pork chops in the microwave. It can be the easiest and the fastest way to thaw pork chops if you are planning to cook them immediately after defrosting.
As a result, thawing meat prior to cooking helps to evenly cook the meat and also expedite the cooking time.
Some portions of thawed pork chops can be in a dangerous situation if they are not cooked instantly after thawing them.
Leaving the raw meat in the warm microwave for extended time exposes the perishable food to the temperature danger zone and increases the risk of food borne illness. The bacteria may not get destroyed and need to reach optimal temperature to halt the rapid grow.
Frozen meat that has been thawed in the microwave can be refrozen after it has been cooked and brought down to room temperature. It is not recommended to refreeze pork chops after they have been defrosted.
Is it safe to thaw pork chop in the microwave?
Yes, it is safe to thaw pork chop in the microwave. In fact, the microwave is the fastest way to defrost pork chops safely.
However, the microwave can quickly bring meat into the danger condition where bacteria multiply rapidly. That is why defrosted pork chops should be cooked immediately as soon as they are fully thawed.
If you do not have time to wait overnight, or even for a hour to thaw pork chop under cold running water, then thawing them in a microwave can be the safest and quickest way.
Do I need to defrost pork chop before cooking?
Yes, it is important to defrost pork chops before cooking. Depending on the thickness of the chop, the outside of the meat can be burn or completely overcooked while the inside is raw and ice cold.
Raw pork is not safe to eat and can present many health concerns. Therefore, defrosting pork chops before cooking is extremely important.
It is necessary to defrost pork chop before cooking them. Whether you are grilling or roasting them, defrosting the meat can reduce cooking time in half and prevent the overcooking the outside with a raw or undercooked center.
In case you decide to cook frozen meat, always start with lower temperature on the stove or oven to allow extra time to cook the center completely. This is not recommended for pork chops as they are better prepared with high heat and direct cooking methods like pan roasting or grilling.
If you do not have time and do not want to thaw pork chop in a microwave, then you can start cooking most of the recipes by using frozen pork chop. But it can take over 50% more time to cook the recipe as compared to the recipes cooked with a fresh or thawed pork chop.
When cooking frozen pork chop directly without defrosting them, use meat thermometer to test for doneness. Measure the internal temperature on the thickest part of meat so it reaches 145 degree Fahrenheit, and let is rest 3 minutes prior to eating.
If I defrost pork chop can I refreeze it?
If you already defrosted pork chop in the microwave, but can’t use it right away, it is best to cook it before refreezing. The microwave exposes the pork chop to the temperature danger zone, therefore cooking will halt the growth of bacteria.
According to the Department of Agriculture of the US, it is safe to refreeze food that has been thawed in the refrigerator without cooking. But your pork chop can lose its quality due to the loss of moisture while defrosting.
However, meat can be safely refrozen within 3 to 4 days of thawing, as long as they are properly stored and thawed. If you would like to store defrosted pork chop in the fridge, you can leave them 3 to 5 days with 40 degree Fahrenheit fridge temperature to remain safe to use within the timeframe.
How do you defrost pork chop quickly?
Pork chop can be defrosted quickly in cold water as well as in a microwave depending on how long time you have to prepare the meal.
If you cannot wait for 10-12 hours to defrost pork chop in a refrigerator overnight, a water bath is a quicker and safer method. Cold running water will thaw it within a hour or so without any heat being applied.
To thaw pork chop in the cold water you will have to put the frozen pork chop in a leak-proof resealable plastic bag and submerge the bag in a bowl of cold water. Replace the water every 25-30 minutes until the pork chop is thawed properly, it will take about 2 hours to thaw 4 pounds of pork chops.
But while defrosting pork chop in cold water, do not use your sink as it can increase the risk of bacterial infection, in case of any leakage. Moreover, avoid using hot or warm water for this purpose as it can increase the temperature of certain parts of the chop which can increase the danger of micro bacteria growth.
In contrast, using a microwave to defrost pork chops only take a couple minutes, but low heat is applied during the thawing process. Therefore, the integrity of the meat is comprised by low heat levels that can eventually begin cooking the meat if left for too long.
So if you plan to defrost pork chop just at the time of dinner, then a microwave can defrost it quickly in under 10 minutes. You must cook the pork chop immediately after defrosting in the microwave to avoid the risk of food borne illness.
How long does pork chop take to defrost in the microwave?
Microwave is quickest way to defrost pork chop compared to any other conventional appliances. It may take 2 minutes to thaw one side of pork chop in the microwave, and it should take less than 5 minute to thaw in total.
The variation of time to thaw pork chop in the microwave can depend on the type of your microwave as well as on the size or number of your chops being defrosted. Use the defrost button or set the microwave to 50% power for 2 to 4 minutes, and flip the chop after every minute until it is evenly thawed from all sides.
If you have defrost setting on your microwave, these features are equal to 30 to 50% power. High or full regular setting for any microwave would be too powerful to thaw meat, so it is important to adjust the power level to low or medium heat.
Tips to defrost pork chop in microwave
When in hurry, microwave is quite easy and quick way to defrost pork chop. If you plan to cook them right after thawing, use the microwave method to get the job done smoothly.
Pork chop can be defrosted in a microwave by following the tips provided here under:
- Unwrap all frozen pork chop to remove any plastic or styrofoam packaging.
- Put the frozen pork chop on a microwave-safe plate to collect the drips from the chop
- Use a microwave cover or microwave-safe plastic wrap over the plate lightly to avoid splatters in the appliance while thawing.
- Set the microwave for 2 minutes at 50% of power or defrost setting to start thawing the frozen pork chop
- After 2 minutes, flip the chop and defrost it for 2 more minutes.
- The process of flipping and defrosting the chop should be repeated after every minute until the pork chop is heated evenly to room temperature from all sides.
By covering with wrap, the moisture will remain inside and keep the meat juice intact to avoid from drying out. Also, by reducing the power setting, you can easily prevent the meat from starting to cook.
Best way to defrost pork chop in microwave
From cold water bath to overnight fridge method, there are various ways to defrost frozen meat. However, the shortest amount of time to thaw frozen pork chops is using a microwave.
Here is the best way to defrost pork chop in a microwave:
- Unwrap the pork chops and place them evenly on a plate that can be used safely in the microwave. To thaw pork chops evenly, place them on the plate at equal distances.
- If you are thawing only one chop, then you should place it in the middle of the plate. And if you are defrosting more than one, ensure not to stack or overlap them in any way.
- Set your microwave for 2 minutes at 30% to 50% power level depending upon the wattage of your microwave, and if there is defrost setting on microwave use that alternatively. Avoid using regular or high setting to thaw pork chop as it can be too powerful for this purpose.
- Start thawing pork chop for 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, carefully turn the pork chop and microwave it again for 2 minutes to thaw it evenly from all sides.
- Continue flipping and microwaving the pork chops until they are thawed completely with no visible ice particles remaining on the surface.
- Remove the thawed pork chops from the microwave and start cooking right away. They must be cooked immediately after defrosting to avoid any rapid bacterial growth that could lead to food borne illness.
Defrosting Pork Chop in Microwave: Conclusion
Preparing meal with frozen meat can be tricky, and without thawing prior to cooking takes more than 50% cooking time extra. When short on time, use microwave to get the job done quickly.
Place desired amount of frozen pork chop on a microwave-safe plate and cover with a microwavable lid. By doing so, any splatters occurring while thawing will catch on the cover instead of all over the microwave.
Adjust the power to 30% to 50% power level, or use defrost setting for 2 minute to start. Afterward, carefully open the microwave, flip the meat using tongs and continue defrosting for 2 minutes additionally.
Repeat the process until the pork chop reaches room temperature. When touching the meat, make sure to frequently wash hands with soap to avoid cross contamination from the raw meat.
Microwave thawed meat should be cook immediately to avoid from harmful bacteria. However, if you cannot eat the meat right away then it is safe to refreeze after it is cooked.
There you go! Use these tips to safely defrost pork chops in the microwave to cut your cooking time in half. Be able to enjoy juicy pork chops by thawing and cooking the right way.