lol. Well that's Christmas ruined.

[meatmadness]

I've been with my side of the family all day and at around 10am I thought "must text DP to get the Christmas beef out of the freezer" and then nothing. Been home a few hours and DP just said remind me to take the Christmas beef out before we go to bed". It's a massive lump of beef. Christmas beef no less. It will never be defrosted in time. In an attempt to save Christmas, I have also taken out a small one in the hopes that will be ok. Oh dear!

Surely if you leave it out on the side it will defrost?

My turkey/duck combo thing said it only needs 12 hours to defrost out the fridge.

Is it sealed in plastic? If so I’d submerge it in cold water, put a weight above it so it’s completely under water. Change the water every hour or so if you can (don’t set an alarm overnight!) but it’s one of the most effective defrosting methods.

Agree with cold water (inside a plastic bag). And defrost on the side.

That's what he said but it's very thick. I'm doubtful?

Think u can cook it from frozen. Ask Google. If so u could put overnight jn slow cooker. Will take a long time, but should be tender

Ooooh this is golden. It's came in a plastic wrapper, shall I keep it in that? It's just Tesco beef. Hangs head in shame that it's not artisanal beef from a naice butchers.

I'm going to bed in an hour. Same water all night?

Sit it on a metal baking tray it defrosts quicker

If you defrost a meat joint in the fridge it takes 10 hours per kilo.

A 2.5kg beef joint will feed 6 adults - so that would need 25 hours in the fridge.

If you leave it out of the fridge overnight it will be absolutely fine tomorrow.

Yeah, plonk it in a tub of water or even the sink still in it’s wrapper.

More shame. My largest saucepan does not cover it.

Sink was a great shout. It's in a slow cooker pot now.

Mumsnet has saved Christmas.

No you can't!

@EarringsandLipstick eek. I'm expecting some of it to be cooked from frozen 😂

Argh. I get really scared of dying from dodgily cooked meat. It could be my time.

Before the joint completely defrosts - whenever that may be - it may become 'pliable' enough for you to cut in two. Stout carving knife essential. Two smaller pieces will finish defrosting more quickly than one larger joint. Then adjust cooking times accordingly.

Google appears to say you can cook red meat from frozen

PP are correct! Leave it in the plastic and submerge in very cold water. Weigh it down so it doesn’t bob about, I do this all the time.

Can I scrape in here with a similar issue?!! I remembered to take my XL whole chicken out yesterday morning and popped it in the fridge… but… its still hard as rock. Never going to be defrosted by the morning. Should I follow the same technique as recommended by some of you and pop it in a bowl of water?

It’ll be fine. So many options.

god there’s so many non-issue threads today.

Just leave it on the side in the kitchen. It'll be fine.

Don't put it in water, just leave it out on the side overnight. It'll be fine. Happy Christmas OP!

I cook chicken from frozen all the time. Just breast so I'm not sure if that changes things. Fingers crossed for you!

Thanks to Mumsnet I now have the options 🥳

Yes, non issue in that no one ever died from missing out on a Christmas beef BUT I want that meat!

I did it this morning with my chicken, the more water the better. Just make sure it is in a sealed bag.

@ickky thank you. Should I do this tonight or tomorrow morning? Planning on cooking it around 11am, so if it only takes a few hours I can take it out of the fridge early? Or will it take longer than that?