To ask best way to defrost chicken thighs?

[Auramigraine]

Took a pack of chicken thighs out freezer yesterday AM to put into slow cooker this morning for tea tonight. Checked them just and still a few bits of ice on the chicken so not thoroughly done. Put them on worktop hoping they will defrost quicker so I can bung them in about 11. I’m out after that and want it ready for when I get home so don’t wanna oven cook them later. Is room temp ok or should I do something else.

I'd say thats your best bet right now.
Usually I do it tye other way round - on the side for a few hours, then into the fridge for 20 hrs - so tet the meat out of the freezer when I cook the previous nights meal, and jnti the fridge when I clear up!

Stick them in the sink with the cold tap running slowly over them whilst they’re still in the packaging. They’ll be done in half an hour or so. It’s how all restaurants defrost meat/fish.

Running water as above. Cold water.

Should be fine, if still any ice at 10.30 use the running water method as above. If any concerns at 11 assuming you are browning the meat, just brown for an extra couple of mins, it's fine

Turn a large saucepan upside down and put the chicken thighs on top of it - ideally in a bag not their plastic tray so they're more in contact with the metal. Sounds bizarre but it works - I think it's something to do with the greater conductive properties of the metal compared with air/the worktop.

As above. In contact with metal. A roasting dish or metal platter.