Tuna steaks are a delicious, healthy meal that can be enjoyed in a wide variety of ways. Whether as a main dish, added to salad, in rice bowls or sliced up for snacking, tuna steaks are a great staple to keep in your home to enjoy.
Tuna steaks can be bought refrigerated or frozen. If they are bought frozen, or you choose to freeze them once home, they will need to be thawed before cooking or consuming. Cooking a frozen tuna steak without thawing it first can cause it to dry out due to how fast that fish cooks, spoiling the quality and texture of your food.
Tuna Steaks can be thawed easily in the refrigerator or by being submerged in cold water. They can be submerged over a period of 12 hours or within an hour to cook and enjoy.
Frozen tuna steaks can be thawed in the refrigerator or with cold water. Both methods are safe and will thaw your fish without affecting its quality, texture or flavor.
If you choose to thaw your tuna steaks in the refrigerator, be sure to do so at least twelve to twenty four hours before you plan to cook them. Simply place the frozen fish into your refrigerator and allow it to thaw naturally overnight or all day.
When thawing, be sure to keep the tuna steaks in their original packaging or in a sealable plastic bag.
It is best to place a dish rag or towel beneath the thawing fish. This will catch any condensation that forms during the thawing process and keep your refrigerator from gathering pools of water, creating a mess to clean up.
You should be able to tell when the tuna steaks have thawed completely by their texture. They will now be flexible and soft rather than hard and stiff.
Once you have thawed your tuna in the refrigerator, be sure to cook within one to two days. If your tuna steak has not been cooked in this time period, be sure to refreeze it for later use as it will spoil if it remains in the refrigerator for any longer.
Thawing Frozen Tuna Steaks In Cold Water
Defrosting with cold water is a quicker method of thawing that may be used when you do not want to wait a day or so to serve and eat your tuna steaks. If that sounds more your speed, grab a large bowl and start filling it up with water.
Fill a bowl or basin up with cold water to a high enough level to completely submerge all of the fish. No part of the packaging should be above the water level or exposed to any air.
Shipped in a cooler with dry ice and/or gel packs.
Place the fish in its original packing or an airtight, sealed plastic bag before putting it into the water. Once it is in the water, allow it to soak for about an hour to defrost completely. The amount of time it will take to completely defrost will depend on the size of the steak, as well as how many you are defrosting.
Change the water every half an hour to ensure it stays cold. The water must be changed during this method to remain cold so that it does not enter the ‘danger zone’ of temperatures that allow bacteria to grow.
Once the tuna steak has thawed, cook immediately or keep in the refrigerator for one to two days before cooking. This method is a great way to defrost your tuna steak faster than the refrigerator for when you want to enjoy it within the same day.
In Conclusion
Tuna steaks are a great addition to many meals, as well as being delicious main courses. They are versatile, healthy and can be enjoyed as lunch, dinner or an in between snack.
However you decide to enjoy your tuna steak, be sure to thaw it properly before cooking. Proper defrosting is absolutely necessary to make sure your food is safe for consumption.
Not only is defrosting necessary for safe consumption of tuna steaks, it is also highly recommended to keep the highest food quality possible. Fish cooks fast, so cooking tuna steaks from frozen can cause them to dry out and lose their delicious texture and flavor. Thawing tuna steaks before cooking is an easy way to male sure your tuna steaks are served in a top of the line way.
No matter how you choose to cook and serve your tuna steaks, thawing them is an easy step to ensure excellence. Both methods mentioned of thawing tuna steaks, including cold water submersion and refrigeration, will safely thaw your food and preserve quality.
However you choose to thaw your tuna steaks is up to you. Choose the method that best fits your amount of time you want to dedicate to thawing and get started.
