Thaw ground beef in the refrigerator
Place it on a plate or in a container to catch drips
Keep it sealed or covered while thawing
Allow about 24 hours for every 1 to 2 pounds
Thaw ground beef in cold water for faster results
Keep it in a leak-proof bag
Submerge the bag in cold water
Change the water every 30 minutes
Cook immediately after cold-water thawing
Thaw ground beef in the microwave if cooking right away
Use the defrost setting
Rotate and separate the meat as it thaws
Cook immediately after microwave thawing
Do not thaw ground beef at room temperature
Do not refreeze ground beef thawed in cold water or the microwave unless cooked first