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It happens to the best of us. You head into the kitchen to make dinner and realize the meat is still in the freezer and still frozen solid. Before you panic or order delivery, here are a few ways to save dinner and stick to your meal plan.
Quick Tips for Thawing Meat
The safest way to thaw meat quickly is with a cool water bath. Place the meat in a sealed bag and submerge it in cool water, changing the water every 20 to 30 minutes until thawed.
While the meat thaws, go ahead and prep the rest of the recipe. Chop vegetables, mix sauces, or get side dishes started so dinner comes together quickly once the meat is ready to cook.
It’s not ideal, but you can also use the microwave to thaw meat in a pinch. Just beware that some parts, especially the edges or corners, may start cooking while the center stays frozen.
How to Pivot the Meal Plan
Sometimes the best solution is a quick change of plans. Here are a few easy ways to adjust:
- Keep a pantry or backup meal on hand. This could be pantry staples or a freezer meal.
- Swap meals in your meal plan and make a different one tonight that doesn’t require thawing.
- Use a faster-cooking protein instead, like eggs, pre-cooked sausage, shrimp, canned beans, or rotisserie chicken
A flexible meal plan makes a mid-week pivot simple!
How to Not Forget Next Time
One trick is to add prep notes directly to your recipes in Plan to Eat. You can include reminders like “thaw chicken” or “prep slow cooker ingredients”. These notes will show up on your Planner, but you can also sync your plan with your preferred calendar app to get reminders and notifications!
It also helps to check in with your meal plan each day, either in the morning or before bed. A quick glance can help you stay connected to the week and avoid last-minute surprises at dinnertime.
