Defrosting Ground Beef Quick Dilemma

Updated on September 26, 2012
C.A. asks from Winchester, VA
16 answers

I have approximately 2.5 hours to have a meat loaf on the table and it is sitting in a frozen log. so should I put it in water in the package? microwave? also I have no eggs! maybe that is why I was so bent on going to the grocery store yesterday. Never made it. what else can I do with ground beef that is not tacos? I also have no veggies except one tomato and some lettuce. I cant do hamburger because I have no buns and he wont eat it on bread! Wish I could order something-we ate pizza hut yesterday so my 'mommy is not cooking' quota has been met for the month. I need to go to the store, yesterday!

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So What Happened?

hmmmm
I am defrosting it in warm water and it is working. I think I am just going to try to make it without eggs. I really can not think of anything else. Suggestions were great too thanks. I love the sherpards pie idea and I could probably swing it too.

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C.J.

answers from Dallas on

This is probably too late, but we do mini - meatloaf muffins. regular GB one package of prepared stove top and mix it together with seasoning.
Put in muffin tins, bake add cheddar cheese and bbq last 15 min and serve.
like meatloaf, sans eggs:)

4 moms found this helpful

E.A.

answers from Erie on

meatballs in tomato sauce over spaghetti
Swedish meatballs over egg noodles
chili
wrap around hardboiled eggs, cook, slice and serve on toast with a cream sauce

I also second the mini meatloaves.

eta
oh right, no eggs. You can also wrap bread around a meatball and fry it.

3 moms found this helpful

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E.T.

answers from Albuquerque on

You *can* defrost ground beef in the microwave... but don't leave it the full time on the defrost cycle. Open the door every minute or so and chop it up as much as you can and stir so that the corners don't cook while the center stays frozen.

BUT... you can't really make meatloaf without eggs. The eggs are what holds everything together. How about shephards pie? Brown up the ground beef (with some onion if you have it), top with mashed potatoes and cheese on the very top. Then pop it in the oven to reheat and melt the cheese on the top. It's delish.

3 moms found this helpful
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L.F.

answers from Chicago on

I hope you followed Dawn's advice to defrost using warm water. Sometimes when you defrost in the microwave, the meat still gets cooked.

You CAN make meatloaf without eggs. I do it all the time because my son is allergic to eggs. It won't fall apart. If you want to cook it a little faster, just make it in smaller loaves. Good luck! I hope it all works out.

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B.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I defrost ground meat all the time but I do not use the program. I typically will put it in @ 50% power for 3-3 1/2 minutes. Then I will flip it and do the same for about another 3 minutes. Sometimes the middle is still frozen so I will remove the defrosted portion and put the solid part back in @ 50% for a couple of more minutes.

How about spaghetti with meat sauce? That wouldn't require A. egg.

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D.B.

answers from Fargo on

Hamburger browned with onions if you have it. Make rice with beef broth again if you have it. Mix....simple but really good. My kids love rice a roni so this is my healthy version.

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L.L.

answers from Rochester on

You could defrost in microwave, if you need it to move along quicker. I generally defrost for a minute at a time, then take it out and scrap off whatever has defrosted and continue...that way, you don't cook any of the meat.

I suppose you could go without eggs...never tried it, actually.

My family loves meatloaf, so I'll share the recipe...hamburger, GF Rice Krispies, egg, ketchup, GF soy sauce (or Thai Peanut, depends), garlic, ginger.

My mom used to make some sort of hamburger pie...she's use a ready made frozen crust and put it in a deep dish pan, and fill it with a mix of browned hamburger, tomato soup, cheddar cheese, and corn. Second pie crust, cut some fancy designs, and bake it for however long. Sorry I can't be more specific, because I don't make it myself...but it was very tasty.

Hamburger...we also use ground beef in stir frys sometimes, and also in a green been casserole (basically, green beans, hamburger, onions, some sort of potato, cream of mushroom soup, and cheese.)

2 moms found this helpful

F.M.

answers from San Antonio on

Grandma always used to make me little "steaks" that I just loved:
Mash ground beef and garlic salt into little hamburger size patties. Lay into buttered cast iron skillet. Flip till cooked thru. Remove from pan. Add milk and gradually add corn starch and salt to make a white gravy. Serve with a veggie on the side. I STILL love it when I go visit Grandma (age 93) and we make this together.

If it were me, I'd ground the meat, add a jar of spaghetti sauce. Make noodles. Done.

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D..

answers from Charlotte on

The way I do it is to put hot water in a big bowl and put the package in the water. (Don't put water in the package!!) The water will get cool very quickly. Keep changing the water to make it hot. It will defrost pretty quickly.

Grab your son and go to the store while you're waiting for it to defrost.

Btw, do you like eggplant? If you do, cut them in half length-wise and lay them down face down and bake them. Put some of the ground beef in a frying pan and brown it, and then take the eggplant out of the oven. Scoop out the part of the eggplant insides, and add the ground beef to it. Spoon it back into the eggplant and put it back in the oven for a little bit. You have eggplant boats. Would he like that, do you think? (Especially if you called them boats...)

Dawn

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J.☯.

answers from Springfield on

I would use the microwave to defrost, but I'm not sure about making a meatloaf without eggs.

Do you have any soup? There are many recipes for groundbeef and soup. Hamburger Helper? Spaghetti and meatballs?

Good luck!

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M.R.

answers from Detroit on

The micro makes it kinda rubbery for me. I would use hot water. Good luck!

You got bacon? What about BLT's.

You will figure it out, its amazing the healthy things I can come up with when I have no choice. :)

1 mom found this helpful

M.L.

answers from Houston on

Can't go wrong with shepard's pie!

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J.S.

answers from Columbia on

s'ghetti!
chili
hamburger helper
mac n cheese w/ hamburger
stuffed peppers (if you go to the store)

1 mom found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

My microwave has a thaw setting (you indicate the type of meat (meat, chicken, fish) and the weight) and it works perfectly for me.
I thawed a 5 lb boneless leg of lamb last week and it was like I thawed it in the fridge over night but it took only a fraction of the time.

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R.K.

answers from Appleton on

When I need to defrost meat in the microwave I enter half the weight it actually is. This way the meat will thaw but doesn't usually cook, it will still be cold and maybe frozen in places. Best then to open it up and spread it out if possible. Reserve as many meat juices as possible or the cooked meat will end up kinda dry.

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☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Ugh. I'd use the defrost on the microwave.
But I hate the results when I do that.
But...with the clock ticking....yeah....microwave. Just keep turning the meat so you don't get it "cooked" in a few spots!

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