HELP! cooking from frozen!

Olliebeak

I'm sure that we used to get told that if the animal had 4 legs the meat could (not must) be cooked from frozen, but if it had only 2 legs then it must be defrosted first.

Personally I would NEVER cook any meat from frozen - no matter what it said on the label.

Penelope_Penguin

thriftlady wrote: »

That's one of the many reasons I like to buy from a butcher or a farmshop -I hate bossy labels.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :T :T :T :T :T :T :T

I would never cook a joint of meat from frozen - too likely to end up with it cooked on the outside and still frozen on the inside

I have been known to cook sausages or mince from frozen, but verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry slowly, and making sure they were piping hot right through before serving

Penny. x

geordie_joe

thriftychick wrote: »

I was wondering why it is ok to cook meat from frozen that you buy in the supermarket i.e. lamb shoulder - it says best cooked from frozen. Whereas other meat that I freeze myself has to be defrost thoroughly? Do they do something special to it?

It is OK to cook meat from frozen, if you do it right. It needs to be done more slowly, so you don't cook the outside and leave the inside still frozen.

Think about meat, how often do you hear that it should be "done" on the outside but still "pink" on the inside? Some people like their beef well done, others like it pink in the middle, while others like it with blood still running from the middle.

As for "Do they do something special to it?", yes they do, they fill it full of water and preservatives etc to bulk it out and make it last longer. You have to cook it from frozen because if you ever see it thawed out you would probably throw it in the bin and never buy it again.

If you want to cook a (proper) frozen joint then do it in a slow cooker and allow for the thawing time, or defrost it in the microwave first, or put it in the oven on low for a while first.

Which ever way you do it, always aim to over cook it, not under cook it. And when you think it is done cut it clean in half and take a look.

thriftychick

Thanks everyone. I think you are right about it being "full of water" - probably why its so much cheaper. Think I'll steer clear!

2cats1kid

I cook just about everything from frozen in my slow cooker. Mind you, it goes on about 8am for eating at 6.30ish pm and sits all day on low, so it gets really well done. Never had any problem - meat is always really well cooked and no-one has had so much as a gippy tum.

Charliex

Can anyone help me with this please??

I cooked a cottage pie last week with fresh minced beef and then covered and froze it. I took it out of the freezer yesterday and put it in the fridge to defrost but it's still frozen now! Can i put it in the oven frozen to cook it or do I have wait for it to defrost?

Am slightly more paranoid about this kind of thing as I have a 2yr old dd who will be eating it and I am pregnant

Thanks in advance!

custardy

Charliex wrote: »

Can anyone help me with this please??

I cooked a cottage pie last week with fresh minced beef and then covered and froze it. I took it out of the freezer yesterday and put it in the fridge to defrost but it's still frozen now! Can i put it in the oven frozen to cook it or do I have wait for it to defrost?

Am slightly more paranoid about this kind of thing as I have a 2yr old dd who will be eating it and I am pregnant

Thanks in advance!

you can do it
but iut would need reach piping hot in the centre
the worry is that the frozen foods heats slowly,allowing bacteria to grow/survive if it doest get hot enough
personally i would leave it in the fridge till tomorrow and have something else today

McKneff

No problem at all as long as it is heated right the way through.

Birds Eye one etc are always cooked from frozen, arent they, no difference.

Enjoy.

missminx

Hiya Hun, I see you have your answers but thought I would add - when I make any kind of pie with mashed potato topping, freeze the mash separately. It's quicker and easier to re-heat. If you ask friends and family to keep the tupperware containers that you get take away food in, they are ideal for freezing down food in portions and they don't cost anything this way either. HTH

Charliex

Thanks all...that was quick !!