Wagyu beef makes a melt-in-your-mouth, delectable meal. It’s not just something you can pop down to the neighborhood grocery store and buy, however. Deliciously tender and mouth-wateringly marbled with healthy fat, Wagyu is a rare and special treat you can only get from Wagyu beef farmers. Of course, ordering your beef from a far-flung location means that when it arrives at your home, it will be frozen. Not to worry! We’ll explain exactly how to thaw Wagyu beef after shipping.

In order to get Wagyu beef safely to customers, suppliers use a special film to inhibit bacteria growth when packing it, and then quick freeze it to a temperature below -30° Fahrenheit on the same day it’s packed. This keeps the beef fresh and doesn’t allow it to age. Once it arrives, it requires some special handling by the consumer.

You might know how to quickly defrost ground beef, but Wagyu should be thawed slowly. You don’t have to thaw it right away if you don’t need it immediately, because Wagyu should stay good in the freezer for up to 6 months! When you do decide to prepare it, make sure you use it within three days.

The optimal way to defrost ground beef or other cuts of Wagyu is in the refrigerator. Plan for this process to take from one to three days, depending on the cut and size of the meat. Rapid defrosting is not recommended for Wagyu, because it can affect the taste and quality of the meat. The fastest way to defrost ground beef might be in the microwave, but that’s not suitable for a meat as exquisite as Wagyu.

If you don’t have time to wait a day or more to prepare your meat, you can thaw your Wagyu beef in a sink or bowl by keeping it in the plastic packaging and immersing it completely in cold water. How long to defrost ground beef, roast, or steaks this way depends on how large the cut of meat is. Typically, it takes about 30 minutes per pound to fully defrost. The key to success when you’re defrosting the meat in the sink is to keep it at a temperature below 40° Fahrenheit. If it gets any warmer than that during the defrosting process, you run the risk of bacterial contamination. To keep your beef cold enough, refill the sink with fresh cold water every 30 minutes while it thaws.

Whenever you want quality American Wagyu Beef, you can trust Triple T Ranch to ship it right to your door. Located in south Alabama, our small, family-owned-and-operated ranch is a place where practicing proven husbandry techniques ensures the health and prosperity of the herd. Our cattle are well cared for and registered through the American Wagyu Association. We ship Wagyu beef to customers across the country with free shipping on any order of $350 or above! Call (251)732-5160 or contact us through our website or for more information.

Thaw Wagyu Beef After Shipping