Can You Defrost Ground Beef In The Package. If you plan to cook it immediately, you can defrost ground beef in your microwave or in watertight packaging under cold running water. To defrost in cold water, put the meat in.

Like with the fridge method, defrosting ground beef in water could take a little longer than an hour, depending on the weight and thickness of the package. Place the wrapped package of ground beef in a large bowl or dish and cover it with cold tap water. For days when what to make for dinner is the last thing on your mind, you can use the microwave to quickly defrost ground beef.