Health Tip: Defrost Meat Properly

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(HealthDay News) -- Many people defrost meat by letting it sit on the counter, by running it under hot water or by putting it in the oven. But the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says those methods can make you sick.

The academy offers these suggestions for thawing meat properly:

• Place frozen meat in a refrigerator set to below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Place the meat in the microwave, using the "defrost" setting.
• Place the meat (still tightly wrapped in airtight packaging) in the sink in cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes, and make sure it's below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

-- Diana Kohnle

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