How To Defrost Ground Beef In Instant Pot

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Can You Cook Frozen Hamburger Patties

How to thaw frozen ground beef in the Instant Pot

When you re short on time and dont have fresh meat on hand, cooking frozen hamburger patties is a good option. As for the best way to prepare frozen hamburger patties it depends on your preference you can cook them in the oven, on a grill or in a frying pan, to easily make a satisfying dinner.

Perfect Ground Beef In The Instant Pot

One of the most common questions is how to cook ground beef in the Instant Pot.

Cooking ground beef from fresh is easy peasy! Just hit the sauté button

on the Instant Pot and brown your ground meat as you would usually on the stovetop.

But when it comes to making ground beef from frozen, it requires an additional step. One has to first cook the beef to then sauté it with seasoning in the pressure cooker or Instant Pot. Does it work well? You bet it truly does!

Instant Pot Frozen Ground Beef

  • Yes, forgetfulness happens often. So I started by explaining how to cook frozen meat in an Instant Pot in this pressure cooker frozen whole chicken;post.
  • All of this is for those days when everything seems to slip your mind. Now there are NO worries because you can go from a rock hard block of frozen meat to juicy dinner in no time at all.

I use ground beef in the Instant Pot at least 2 times each week to make and create new recipes.

Whether I mix it with other ingredients to make Instant Pot turkey meatloaf or make meatballs to throw in our Instant Pot Italian Wedding soup, theres always something I can make with a pound of ground beef.

This year we made the big move from CA to ID and out here a lot of families buy meat fresh from local farms and we did as well.

  • A large freezer now lives in the garage and is packed with meat in bulk that will last us the entire winter.

After we purchased a quarter of a cow recently I started cooking with beef even more so I needed a way to figure out how to go cook frozen ground beef in no time.

  • This works for frozen ground turkey too of course.

We have a list of Instant Pot beef recipes here and will share info. as I experiment with other frozen beef cooked in the pressure cooker, but am just focusing on Instant Pot frozen ground beef right now.

Read Also: How Long To Cook Fava Beans In Instant Pot

Instant Pot Frozen Ground Beef Or Turkey

This post contains affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.

Instant Pot Frozen Ground Beef or Turkey thawed in your electric pressure cooker in minutes. Then use in any recipes calling for ground beef or ground turkey. No more forgot to thaw meat at 4 PM!

I cant tell you how many times Instant Pot frozen ground beef or turkey has saved the dinner! I dont have enough fingers to tell you how many times at 4PM my brilliant healthy dinner idea was ruined by , forgot to thaw the meat.

Remembering To Thaw My Meat

How to Defrost Frozen Ground Beef in the Instant Pot ...

I cannot describe how many times I have waltzed into the kitchen at 4:00pm only to realize that my meat was rock solid and still in the freezer.

Since we have no microwave by choice, putting meat in the;fridge to thaw the night before is a pretty big deal. And one I pretty much fail at.

So when a friend told me that you can cook FROZEN MEAT in the Instant Pot with NO NEED TO THAW, I definitely perked up all ears.

Taking The Plunge

So I ordered the Instant Pot and promptly let it sit unopened in the box.

For a month.

Finally I sent out a cry for help. Its not like this thing is that complicated. But my brain was on hyperdrive from just managing life.

So my friend Tricia stopped by my house and totally blew my mind. She taught me how to cook frozen ground beef in my Instant Pot. And my life has never been the same.

Cant load the video? Watch here on YouTube.

Is your Instant Pot still in the box? Katies kids show you how EASY it is to get started in this Instant Pot set-up video tutorial! If you feel like you need a full lesson in how to use your Instant Pot, check out Traditional Cooking Schools Pressure Cooking eCourse.

Youre Just *7 Days* Away From Easier Meals with Your Instant Pot

Whether you have a few fav meals in your Instant Pot or still arent using it regularly yet, I can show you the secrets to SAVE time with my favorite appliance!

May I send you my best hacks to maximize my fav appliance so you can spend more time with your family AND nourish them well?

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Tips For Cooking Beef In Instant Pot

  • Remove all the packaging from your frozen meat. That includes that absorbent pad that often sits between the bottom of your meat and the tray.
  • Consider substituting a broth that compliments your meat instead of water. This will create a richer flavor. Adjust seasonings accordingly.
  • Check your meats temperature. The FDA says beef, veal, and lamb are safe at 160°F. So if youre unsure of doneness, you can definitely check with a thermometer.
  • Check for dampness. Frozen foods can let off a lot of water. If your meat seems too damp, blot with paper towels.
  • Dont forgot to taste and adjust seasonings after cooking. This will depend on how youll use the thawed frozen ground beef in a recipe.
  • How To Thaw Ground Beef In An Instant Pot:

    After you have added your liquid, place your frozen ground beef on top of your trivet .

    After the cooking time is up, place your ground beef on a plate and cut into it to see if it cooked all the way through. ;If it didnt, which happens, simply finish cooking on the Sauté setting.

    Note: if you merely want to THAW your ground beef see the recipe note! ;You dont need to cook it nearly as long in the Instant Pot and then you can finish cooking your ground beef however you need or want to!

    Very similar instructions if you just want to cook your fresh ground beef in the Instant Pot just a reduced cooking time!

    Its SO easy isnt it! ;This one is going to come in handy save and share!!

    Don’t Miss: Frozen Hamburger In The Instant Pot

    Best Ways To Defrost Ground Beef

    When dinner depends on thawing that solid brick of ground beef, here are 3 ways to get it done safely and quickly.

    Ground beef is one of the most;versatile;ingredients to stockpile in your freezer, especially given that it only;lasts a few days in the fridge. But defrosting it the wrong way can risk the growth of potentially harmful bacteria. Fortunately, we have the easiest and most efficient strategies for thawing ground beef quickly and safely:

    Can You Cook Frozen Ground Beef In The Instant Pot

    LIFE HACK: Cooking Frozen Ground Beef in the Instant Pot | 2 flavors, 20 minutes

    You can cook frozen ground beef in the Instant Pot, which is fantastic since it doesnt thaw very evenly in the microwave, and who actually remembers to take meat out the day before to thaw?

    Not me, thats for sure.

    Cooking frozen ground beef in the Instant Pot takes about 20 minutes. If your blocks of ground beef are really thick it will likely take a bit longer than that.

    I freeze my ground beef in flat, 1-1.5 inch thick blocks and it takes 20 minutes to cook almost all the way through in the Instant Pot.

    You can add a few more minutes to get it completely cooked through, but I find its easier to crumble and break up if its still a bit pink in the middle.

    It only takes a couple minutes with the saute function to break it up and finish cooking it after the pressure cooking cycle is complete.

    Recommended Reading: What To Do If Your Instant Pot Says Burn

    Using Frozen Ground Beef

    If you forgot to thaw your ground beef, the good news is that you can cook your beef straight from frozen! The cooking instructions from frozen are fairly simple. To cook the frozen ground beef, skip the saute step in the cooking instructions and simply pressure cook for 12 minutes. Once the pressure cook has completed, do a natural pressure release and youre done!

    How To Thaw Ground Beef In The Pressure Cooker:

    In order to defrost your ground beef in the Instant Pot, you will have to actually cook it. There is no function to thaw or defrost it without cooking it!

    To do so, add water to the pot , position the trivet or rack, and then place your frozen ground beef on top of the trivet. Pierce the frozen ground beef with a knife as far it can go to help vent so the inside meat cooks better.

    If the frozen ground beef has a flat form, it will take around 20 minutes. But it has a tube or cylinder;form like mine, it will take about 25 minutes to reach a safe cooking temp which is 165 degrees F .

    After that, you may season and saute your ground beef to add flavor and use it in whatever dish you want to.

    Of course, you can make a ground turkey in the Instant Pot instead! In fact, you can cook any type of ground meat such as ground chicken, pork, etc. not only beef.

    How long to cook ground beef in the Instant Pot?

    It depends on whether the meat is fresh or frozen and also its form/shape.

    If the meat is fresh, it takes around 6 minutes to 8 minutes to cook in the Instant Pot.

    But if the beef is frozen, the cooking time will be longer about 20 to 25 minutes .

    In any case, always check the cooked ground beef internal temperature to safely consume it. The meat thermometer must register 165 F .

    For more Instant Pot recipes and their cooking times, get the charts and see how to use a pressure cooker.;

    Recommended Reading: How To Cook Frozen Tamales In Instant Pot

    How To Defrost Frozen Ground Beef When You’re Crunch For Time

    If you’re pressed for time and the aforementioned scenario is all too familiar to you, rest assured there are other options than waiting for ground beef to defrost in the refrigerator. One alternative method done in the microwave. Just remember that if you go this route, you will need to cook the beef right away, as some of the meat may actually start cooking during the defrost, the USDA warns.

    If you have a little time to spare , you can defrost your ground beef in cold water; simply place the meat in a plastic bag and fully submerge it in a bowl of cold water. Every 30 minutes, change the water . Once thawed, cook it immediately.

    If you use either the microwave or cold water method, the USDA advises you do not refreeze the beef until you’ve fully cooked it.

    Tips For Cooking Frozen Ground Meat In Your Instant Pot:

    How To Cook Instant Pot Frozen Ground Beef
    • You can also use this Instant Pot method to cook frozen ground turkey, venison or pork.
    • If you have two pounds ground beef to cook, increase the cooking time by about five minutes. Some of this is just experimenting with your Instant Pot.
    • Use the meat in any ground beef recipe like One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese, Pressure Cooker Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, or Sloppy Joes
    • If you want to make this but you still havent taken your Instant Pot out of the box , you may want to give my post about Instant Pot fear first and Ill walk you through getting started in Instant Pot Basics.

    I may earn money as an affiliate from certain product links within posts. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe you will find helpful.

    Recommended Reading: How To Cook Frozen Hamburger Meat In The Instant Pot

    Shopping For The Perfect Ground Beef

    When you go to the market, and you see the hamburger section, it can be so overwhelming with all the choices. Its like a field of options and if you dont understand what all of it means you wont know which way is best for you. Here is a breakdown to help guide you through the ground beef buying process:

    • Regular Ground Beef It can have up to 30 percent of fat content in it.
    • Medium Ground Beef The fat content in medium ground beef is not allowed to have more than 23 perfect fat.
    • Lean Ground Beef When making lean ground beef, it cant be more than 17 percent fat content.
    • Extra Lean Ground Beef This has the least amount of fat content and isnt more than 10 percent.

    The choice of ground beef that you buy will depend on your preference for fat content. Low carb / Ketogenetic lifestyle followers will choose a higher fat content ground beef, whereas those who are following a lower-fat diet will obviously choose something closer to the lean or extra lean category.

    A higher fat content usually results in more flavor, as the old adage goes Where theres fat, theres flavor. So most people will use more added seasonings to season up the lower fat ground beef.

    How Do You Cook Frozen Ground Beef In Instant Pot

    How do I cook my frozen meat in Instant pot. To cook Frozen Meat Add Trivet and Block of Frozen Beef on Top of Trivets. Set the Valve to Sealing, Press the Pressure Cook on High Pressure for Five Minutes. After the 5 minute timer, Release the Pressurization . Note: If you want to add some seasoning to your meat, you may want try adding some salt and pepper to this recipe. You can also add a little bit of garlic powder, onion powder or chili powder to make it taste better. Just make sure you dont overdo it. This is a great recipe to try out when you are cooking for your family.

    Also Check: Instant Pot Frozen Hamburger

    Three Ways To Defrost Ground Beef

    Thaw in the refrigerator. Put the zip-top bag with the frozen meat in the refrigerator. It’s best to place the meat on a plate so any condensation from the bag won’t drip all over other items. When using this method, cook thawed meat within 1 to 2 days.

    Thaw in the microwave. Put the zip-top bag with the frozen ground beef on a plate in the microwave and, Using the defrost setting, start defrosting for 3 to 4 minutes, flipping the bag over halfway through. Keep an eye on the meat; microwave wattages vary and these times are merely a guideline. Some of the ground beef may have started cooking during the defrosting process so go ahead and cook the meat immediately.

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    Thaw in cool water. Set the zip-top bag with the frozen meat in a sink or large bowl, cover with cold water, and weigh the package of meat down with something heavy, like a skillet or big platter. You want to keep the meat submerged in the cold water. The meat should thaw in less than 15 minutes; cook immediately.

    Can You Use Frozen Meat In Instant Pot

    Instant Pot How To Defrost Or Cook Hamburger For Beginners

    You should be able to use fresh meat and poultry in Instant Pots, although you may need to adjust the cooking time depending on what you are using. You will need less time to cook fresh chicken and turkey than you will to make a meal out of frozen chicken. If you want to add a little more seasoning to your chicken, you might want try adding a teaspoon of salt per pound of chicken instead of a tablespoon. This will allow you to get the same amount of flavor from the chicken regardless of how much you cook it. For example, if your InstantPot has a 1.5 quart capacity, this means you would need about 3 cups of water to cover the meat.

    Recommended Reading: Instant Pot Frozen Ground Beef

    S For Instant Pot Ground Beef

    Step 1: Pour 1 cup or 1 ½ cups of water over the bottom of the Instant Pot, and then position in your trivet.

    Step 2: Place 1-2 pounds of ground beef on the trivet, lock the lid, and seal the valve. Pro-Tip: If possible, freeze your meat in 1 inch thick slabs so that the meat will cook evenly in the instant pot.

    Step 3: Set to high pressure and cook for 20-25 minutes, depending on if your frozen meat is flat or comes in a tube form. Let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes and then do a quick release.

    Step 4: Check the temperature with a meat thermometer. It should reach 165 degrees F . If it is not, seal the pot again and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.

    Step 5: Once the meat is cooked, remove the trivet and discard the liquid. Break the meat up into small chunks.

    Step 6: Season and sauté the meat with a little bit of oil. Use it in many dishes such as hamburger helper, ground beef tacos, lasagne, and more.

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