Glossary

The process of thawing food that has been frozen to eliminate the frost and ice so that the food can be prepared for eating. Different frozen foods defrost at different rates and may use different methods of defrosting. For example, frozen meats should be defrosted in the refrigerator to limit the harmful bacteria that would build up if the meat were defrosted in a warmer environment, however, many breads, cakes, and pastries can be safely defrosted in their wrappers at room temperature.