What's the best way to thaw frozen food in the microwave?

What's the best way to thaw frozen food in the microwave?

Barbara Kafka (Chef and Cookbook Author) gives expert video advice on: Is it safe to microwave food only until it's partially done?; What's the best way to thaw frozen food in the microwave?; What's the best way to reheat cooked food in the microwave? and more...

The best way to thaw frozen food in the microwave is to disregard the instructions of the manufacturer. I like to store my food in microwaveable plastic containers. And I don't use very large ones, because if I want stock, the number of days I want a quart at a time are few and far between. So pint containers, even smaller for many kinds of foods, are more appropriate. You want to cover the food, just as if you were cooking the food, but take off lids of the microwave containers, otherwise they might make a mess. It will depend on the density of the food, how much liquid and how much solid it has, and what the solid is. For instance, if it has a lot of sugar, it will defrost much more quickly than a liquid will. If you're going to buy a TV dinner, may God bless you, but in addition, follow the instructions.