People Have Been Confusing Frogs and Fish Without Realizing It

Frozen food is a convenient and effective way to preserve food for longer periods of time and reduce waste. When frozen correctly, food can be stored for several months. One common challenge when using frozen food is how to defrost it quickly without waiting for it to thaw naturally.

There are various methods for defrosting food, with the most recommended ones being transferring the frozen food to the refrigerator a few hours before cooking or soaking it in water. However, in busy households, it can be easy to forget to transfer the food to the refrigerator in advance. So what should you do when it’s almost time to cook, but the meat or fish is still frozen?

An effective method is to soak the frozen meat or fish in water that is infused with spices. This not only helps it defrost faster, but also enhances its flavor during cooking. It is important to note that the spices required for defrosting meat and fish are different. Here are the details:

To defrost meat quickly, mix boiling water and cold water in a 2:5 ratio, resulting in a water temperature of approximately 40 degrees Celsius. Add 2 tablespoons of sugar to the water and stir well to dissolve the sugar completely. Soak the meat in this diluted sugar water. After about 7 minutes, the meat will defrost quickly and become tender and delicious when cooked.

Alternatively, you can use vinegar to defrost meat. Regardless of whether it is pork or beef, soaking it in vinegar will expedite the defrosting process. After defrosting, rinse the meat with clean water before marinating and cooking. The acid in vinegar also helps tenderize the muscle fibers in the meat while preserving its delicious flavor.

When it comes to defrosting fish, you can follow a similar method of soaking it in water, but instead of using sugar, use salt. Mix hot water and cold water in a 2:5 ratio to achieve a water temperature of about 40 degrees Celsius. Add 2 tablespoons of salt to the water and stir well until the salt is completely dissolved. Now, place the fish in the salt water. After 7 minutes, the fish will thaw, become tender once again, and the salt will enhance its firmness and flavor during cooking.

Remember, the ingredients and methods for defrosting meat and fish are different, but the overall goal is to defrost them quickly while improving their tenderness and flavor. By keeping these tips in mind, you can confidently defrost frozen food and enjoy delicious meals in no time.

(Source: tvchosun, lifehacker)