5 Ways How to Defrost Brisket Safely to Avoid Foodborne Illness

Brisket is a delightful type of meat that can be prepared in a variety of ways and is sure to please anyone that you serve it to. However, you need to know about the how to defrost Brisket (or ribs) safely before you prepare it if you have some sitting in your freezer at the moment.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

Be Aware Of Uneven Thawing

Attempting to thaw a large piece of meat such as brisket (or ribs) can be more challenging than thawing a smaller piece of meat like a chicken breast.

The reason is that the meat can thaw unevenly. Thus, it may be perfectly fine around the edges, but be completely frozen in the middle, and you might not even realize it. 

The University of Illinois provides some insight into what people should do to protect the integrity and safety of any meat that they intend to thaw out and serve to their guests: 

If safe, wholesome meat has been purchased, transported, handled, and stored safely, you can thaw it safely.

Properly handled meat stored in a freezer at 0°F will always be safe although the quality will deteriorate over time. Freezing meat keeps bacteria in a dormant stage. However, once thawed, these bacteria can become active again.

Never thaw meat on the counter or let it sit out of the refrigerator for more than two hours. In the summer, reduce this time to 1 hour. Never defrost meat in hot water.

This is excellent advice about the proper mechanics for how to thaw any meat, and it is essential to abide by these guidelines if you want absolute certainty that you are not providing your guests with something that could be a danger to them. 

How To Defrost Brisket Out In The Sink

Who has time to do almost anything these days? It seems like we are all pressed by our busy schedules, and it is common to run into issues having enough time to prepare a meal and get it ready for consumption all by dinner time. Luckily, there are some ways to speed up the process of thawing the brisket that you own. 

To make this work, you need to wrap the brisket up airtight and watertight before you submerge it in water. If water makes direct contact with the brisket, it will take away from its flavor and make a big mess in your sink all at the same time.

You don’t want to deal with either of those issues, and that is why you must wrap it up tightly to keep it from suffering any of those potential setbacks. 

A few things to remember about thawing the brisket in the sink include: 

• You should dump out the water every 30 to 60 minutes and refill it
• You should estimate approximately 45 per pound of meat that you are attempting to thaw
• Make sure that the water temperature is cold water, hot water will not do you any good
• Check that the meat is thawing evenly 

You should be extra cautious when trying to use a method like this because you don’t want to discover that you have thawed out the meat in a way that doesn’t allow it to cook evenly. If you have more time on your hands, please try to thaw it out via another method. 

How Long To Thaw Your Brisket In The Fridge

The best bet you can make to get your brisket thawed out the way that you need it to be is to put in the refrigerator to allow it to thaw. This produces proven results in a safe environment.

At the same time, you will need to have a considerable amount of time on your hands to make this work. The thawing time for a 5 lb. brisket flat is approximately 24 hours.

Add another 24 hours to that time for every 5 pounds that you intend to thaw. 

Here are a few tips to remember when thawing out a brisket in the refrigerator: 

• Place it in the coldest part of the refrigerator
• Put the meat on a tray so it will not leak into other things contained within the refrigerator
• You may leave it in the refrigerator for up to five days after it has fully thawed if you do not intend to cook it right away

These are just a few ideas that you need to keep in your mind as you concern yourself with how to prepare the best-tasting brisket that you can make.

It is all about safety first, and going the refrigerator route is the safest way to make it happen. 

Is It Safe To Thaw A Brisket In The Microwave? 

It is possible to dethaw meat in the microwave, though this is not necessarily recommended. It is the fastest way to get results, but the results may not be all that you had expected.

You could end up thawing out something more than you intended to, or you may end up with meat that doesn’t taste quite right. That said, there are some situations in which it is necessary to speed up the process and help get on to the cooking. 

North Dakota State University provided a piece that said that it is safe to thaw meat in the microwave, but with some caution: 

To defrost ground beef more rapidly, you can defrost it in the microwave oven or in cold water. If using the microwave, cook the ground beef immediately because some areas may begin to cook during the defrosting.

They want anyone who reads that to understand that they are not necessarily recommending thawing meat out in the microwave, but they are saying that it can potentially be done without harming anyone.

If you feel so pressed for time that you absolutely must thaw out meat in the microwave, then so be it. 

Keep a close eye on the meat that you put in the microwave and make sure you don’t leave it in there for too long. Overcooking brisket in the microwave can also cause problems with how the meat cooks and other issues. Be mindful that this method should be used as a last resort. If the situation happens a lot, you can look into thawing trays.

Be sure to read more about trimming brisket here!

How long To Thaw a brisket before cooking?

If beef brisket has been defrosted in the refrigerator, it can be kept for an extra 3 to 5 days in the fridge before cooking. However, if the brisket was thawed using the microwave or cold water, it should be cooked immediately.

How long to smoke a brisket at 225?

The recommended smoking time for a brisket at 225 degrees is typically around 1.5 hours per pound. However, it’s important to consider factors like the thickness of the meat, wind conditions, temperature fluctuations, and the frequency of opening the smoker door, as these can affect the overall cooking time.

What happens if you wrap brisket too early?

If you wrap the brisket too early, it can result in a condition called “bark-lock”, where the bark sticks to the foil and is removed when unwrapped. Therefore, it is advisable to wait until the brisket reaches the appropriate internal temperature before wrapping.

What happens if you cook meat that isn’t fully defrosted?

If meat is cooked without being fully defrosted, it will take longer to cook and there is a risk of harmful bacteria remaining in the center of the meat even if the outside appears cooked.

How long can you leave brisket out at room temperature?

The brisket can be left out at room temperature for up to 2 hours after being removed from the smoker or oven and unwrapped, before the internal temperature decreases too much.

How long can you let a brisket rest in a cooler?

The brisket can be safely rested in a cooler, wrapped in foil and towels, for up to 4 hours.

How long should brisket rest before putting in fridge?

The recommended duration for allowing brisket to rest before refrigeration is typically between 30 minutes and 2 hours, according to most experts. This resting period enables the juices within the meat to evenly distribute, resulting in a more tender and flavorful final product.

Why rest a brisket in a cooler?

Resting a brisket in a cooler allows the meat to reabsorb its juices and liquids, resulting in a more tender and juicy brisket. The ideal solution is to let the smoked brisket rest in an insulated cooler, where it will stay warm while the juices penetrate deep into the meat.