Food Thawing Guide
How long frozen meat, poultry, or fish takes to thaw safely in the fridge, in cold water, or in the microwave.
Currently active across all 60 calculators: US Customary (cups, tbsp, oz, °F, in)
About 1 day per 5 lb (2.3 kg), at least a full day even for small packs. Once thawed, it keeps 1 to 2 days in the fridge and can be refrozen.
About 30 minutes per lb (450 g), in a leak-proof bag fully submerged. Change the water every 30 minutes. Cook right after thawing.
Use the defrost setting and follow your microwave's guide. Parts may start cooking, so cook it immediately.
How to use this calculator
- 1Enter the weight of the frozen food.
- 2Choose what it is: poultry, ground meat, red meat, or fish.
- 3Compare the three safe methods. The refrigerator is best if you have time.
How it's calculated
We do the math at full precision and only round the final answer, so the numbers you see are as close as kitchen measurements allow. The assumptions and limits are listed alongside.
Worked example
Common questions
Can you cook chicken directly from frozen?
Yes. Plan on about 50% more cooking time. Don't cook frozen meat in a slow cooker, because it stays in the danger zone too long.