Which is the best way of defrosting - leaving out in the kitchen, putting in the fridge, in the microwave, or just cooking from frozen? The information given is so confusing. Or do different foods need treating differently? Adele.

Adele, you’re probably not the only one out there wondering what the best way of defrosting frozen food is! 

• There are three recommended ways to thaw frozen foods:
• In the  refrigerator  
• In cold  water  
• In the microwave (always follow manufacturers instructions) 

Today, many frozen foods can be safely cooked directly from their frozen state because the manufacturers have designed the cooking method to ensure that the food is properly cooked. So if the pack tells you to ‘cook from frozen’ please do so, and follow the cooking instructions provided on the packaging. Vegetables should always be cooked from frozen in order to keep the nutrients ‘locked in’.

We do not advise to leave any frozen foods out in your kitchen to defrost. For more info and tips on how to defrost frozen food have a look at our Storing, defrosting and cooking frozen foods safely page. Click here if you have finshed defrosting your frozen foods and want to pick up some recipes from frozen foods ideas.

Thank you for your frozen food question. Click here to see where your frozen food comes from.

The New Ice Age Team