How to Thaw Foods

There are several different methods for defrosting frozen foods. Here's a quick list:

The night before the meal you want to use the frozen food, move it from the freezer to the refrigerator. By dinnertime, it should be pretty well thawed.

Some foods (such as soups) that have been frozen from meals can be heated when still frozen. Just put in a small pot over low heat and stir until it begins to thaw. You might have to add 1 to 2 tablespoons of extra water. Continue stirring until the food is hot.

You can take individual servings of foil-wrapped chicken or meat straight from the freezer and put them directly into the oven. Don't remove them from the foil. Heat at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. Unwrap carefully to see if it is heated through. If not, rewrap and continue heating for another 5 to 10 minutes.

You can also thaw foods in your microwave. Since microwave temperatures vary greatly, check the users guide that came with it for the best times for defrosting different foods.