A “Cool” Dinnertime Hack: Frozen Meat Solution! Do M.O.R.E. with Dinner

If you’ve been following my Do M.O.R.E. with Dinner initiative, you’ve heard about ways to get more out of dinnertime through food, fun and family. And you probably know that I find summertime much easier because my husband can grill out and I can pull together a salad or veggie and simple side dish. But as summer comes to an end and we think about getting back into the school schedule, I’m dreading one of my biggest dinnertime challenges: frozen meat.

This post is part of my role as a member of the Beef Expert Bureau. I have been compensated for my time commitment. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.

One of the biggest barriers I have in getting a healthy, balanced meal on the dinner table is forgetting to defrost meat in advance. Let’s face it, life gets in the way of even simple things like remembering to put frozen meat in the refrigerator the day before to thaw. And if you think you can just put the frozen meat in a sink of water or the microwave to thaw, think again. The sink method is risky because all or part of the meat can end up being in the danger zone (40-140 degrees) too long which could mean you or someone you love could get foodborne illness. Simply setting the microwave on defrost isn’t that effective, either. If you’ve tried it, you know. Part of your meat is still frozen and part of it is now cooked.

But even if you were Superwoman that one particular day (or moment) and remembered to put the frozen meat in the refrigerator the day before to thaw….you know what happens next. Life happens and plans change! Then there you are, putting the thawed meat back into the freezer and repeating the entire cycle (which ends in decreased meat quality and potentially some food safety issues). Stop the insanity!

As a member of the Beef Expert Bureau, I was ecstatic to learn about a very “cool” trick to thaw frozen ground beef quickly, easily and safely! So I’m sharing it with you so that you can enjoy the same excitement and less-stressed dinner planning and prep.

But before we dive into this really cool hack, I have to ask you: Are you freezing your meat correctly to begin with? I recently did the 30-Day Food Waste Challenge and learned that I was NOT doing this properly. How did I not know this? Well, here’s what you need to know:

1. You should NOT just pop the packaged meat into your freezer – the plastic wrap from the grocery store is permeable and this allows too much air to contact the meat causing freezer burn and decreased quality.
2. You also should NOT put it in a plastic container – again too much air contact.
3. The BEST thing you can do is place the package in a resealable freezer bag and make sure to get as much air out of the bag as possible. And don’t forget to put a date on it!

Okay, now you’re ready to follow these simple steps to thawing ground beef in less than 5 minutes!

Who knew dinnertime could be this much easier?! Well, now you know. I’d love to see you post YOUR pics on social media using #domorewithdinner (but make sure you’re avoiding screen time DURING dinner!)

I also encourage you to check out all the yummy recipes and cooking tips from the Beef Checkoff like these Rock and Roll Beef Wraps. IMAGE of Rock and Roll Beef Wraps here

If protein is of interest to you, you should check out the 30-Day Protein Challenge. Let me know if you do – I’ve done it twice and learned so much!

P.S. I have one more juicy tip for you! My friend and fellow dietitian, Toby Amidor, just released her second book, The Healthy Meal Prep Cookbook: Easy and Wholesome Meals to Cook, Prep, Grab, and Go. Check out what she has to say about the book and a SNEAK PEEK of her Tex-Mex Burgers with Avocado Lime Mayonnaise!

“As a single, working mom of three, I want to make sure my kids have healthy, delicious food for every meal.”
-Toby Amidor, Dietitian and Recipe Developer

It’s easy to reach for frozen and microwaveable meals when you’re short on time, but being too busy shouldn’t mean that you can’t have balanced and delicious meals. Learning how to meal prep properly will not only save you time and energy, but it will also help to make sure that you and your family eat homemade and nutritious meals. Providing practical and simple solutions with easy to follow instructions, The Healthy Meal Prep Cookbook shows you how simple it is to enjoy fresh and flavorful meals on even the most hectic days.