Backstory: My brother John is a chef and frequently admonishes my mother about the dangers of bacterial spread in food left out on the counter.
I just made the most delicious enchiladas I’ve ever eaten!
Ground turkey with seasonings, enchilada sauce, black beans, white corn, vegetarian refried beans, a sprinkle of cheddar, and sauteed red and green jalapenos, in a whole wheat tortilla with lettuce…….heavenly!!!
However if daddy and I die from eating them (ground turkey thawed on the counter ALL DAY) please give John permission to speak at my funeral and say that he told me SO.
go team John! Thaw it in the fridge mom, just as easy. Or slap it in a glass bowl and microwave on defrost.
April 26, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Uh, yeah, team John. Even if it didn’t hurt ya, that’s just…unappatizing.
April 26, 2010 at 11:11 pm
Team John here, too. Thaw in the fridge overnight, Mom. Or, instead of using the microwave, put the sealed container in a bowl in the sink and let cold water run over it. This may take a little longer than the microwave (sometimes only a few minutes longer, honestly) but has the advantage of not starting the cooking process before you’re ready.
April 27, 2010 at 10:00 am
Team Mom. Nobody in my family has died from eating meat thawed on the counter all day. It’s in the packaging, not sitting open begging for germs.
April 27, 2010 at 11:20 am
Gotta give mom props for allowing a scolding at her funeral!
April 27, 2010 at 7:19 pm
I agree with Anne, except I believe that it is perfectly safe to defrost in a sealed bag in a big bowl of cold water all day. (change the water once in awhile, and rotate the bag, then when thawed put in the fridge until ready to cook)
April 28, 2010 at 7:41 pm
[...] Cold Turkey » Postcards From Yo Momma [...]
May 1, 2010 at 4:35 pm
lol I am so totally on team mom’s side…..when my son in grade 12 got his food safe certificate he drove me nuts with unsolicitated advice that stopped when I gave him the choice between shutting up or taking over cooking.
May 1, 2010 at 6:31 pm
If you leave it on the counter all day, the outside will thaw before the inside, putting it in the danger zone where bacteria multiplies exponentially.
Standing water breeds bacteria. The fastest most efficient way to thaw is to run it under cold water. Otherwise let it sit in the fridge!!!!!!!!!
May 2, 2010 at 10:41 pm
[...] Cold Turkey » Postcards From Yo Momma [...]
May 6, 2010 at 4:22 pm