I’ve done it. My grandmother did it all the time. Chances are you’re probably planning to do it this Thanksgiving. But you shouldn’t-none of us should-because it’s actually quite risky-even dangerous. Everyone loves to get a jumpstart on their Thanksgiving feast and make as many casseroles ahead of time as they can. It’s a smart way to make sure your Thanksgiving day isn’t a madhouse of flurried preparations in front of a full house of company. The Wrong Way To Thaw A Casserole But while it’s smart to make casseroles ahead of the holiday and freeze them, it’s NOT smart to thaw them haphazardly. I’m 100% guilty of taking a solid-as-a-rock casserole out of the freezer on Thanksgiving Eve and placing it on the counter to defrost overnight. But according to the FDA-the folks in charge of keeping us from killing ourselves with food-borne illnesses, thawing casseroles on your kitchen counter is a big no-no. The reason that counter-thawing is so reckless is the amount of time that food lingers in the “danger zone” -which the FDA defines as between the temperatures of 40° and 140°. That’s the range in which bacteria are able to grow and multiply rapidly. Is there a 100% chance that you’ll get sick from eating a counter-thawed chicken casserole? No. But that chance is definitely not zero. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to spend the better part of December in the hospital, so instead of letting my green bean casserole lounge on the counter for 12 hours, here are a few safer options. The Right Way To Thaw A Casserole Thaw In The Refrigerator This option takes the longest, but it takes the least amount of effort. The only thing you need is time and fridge space, both of which are in high demand during the holidays. Use The Microwave This can be done; there’s even a button on your microwave to prove it. But I’ll be honest-I don’t trust my microwave’s defrost setting. It just never acts quite right enough for my taste. Just Bake It Longer This seems crazy, but it’s actually the most foolproof. Simply increase the cooking time by about 20 minutes, and consider covering the casserole for at least half of the cook time to prevent it from drying out or overbrowning. Whichever method you choose, just play it safe. Nobody needs to start their holiday season with another co-pay.
https://www.southernliving.com/casseroles-thawing-mistake-11854835