Audio By Carbonatix
Every day, home cooks of the world pull meat out of the freezer and defrost it for a meal. Most of us probably don’t think much beyond whether the meat looks and smells OK before and after it’s defrosted. We certainly aren’t likely to be worried that we might unalive ourselves and whoever joins us for supper.
That’s exactly the risk one creator recently highlighted about a common method of defrosting meat, especially fish. It may have you rethinking how you do meal prep.
Creator @freethesudanippl2 posted a TikTok to thank a food scientist for the PSA that stopped her in her meal prep tracks.
“Thank you to the woman who made the video about how if you defrost your meats in their vacuum-sealed bag then you can get botulism,” she says. “Because I remembered that when I was about to take my fish out of the freezer. So, thanks.”
Her post has people vowing to change their ways and rolling their eyes in turns.
As of this writing, it’s generated nearly 5 million views.
What Is Botulism?
Botulism is caused by a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. Botulism attacks your nerves, causing difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, or death, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Fortunately, it is extremely rare. In 2019, health departments nationwide reported a cumulative total of 215 cases of botulism, the CDC reports. Of these, 21 cases were food-borne. These resulted in three deaths.
Defrosting Meat Safely
It may be convenient to pull that tilapia out of the freezer and throw it in the sink a few minutes before dinner.
But creator @freethesudanippl2 credits @hydroxide with the PSA that wants you to think twice.
Self-described food scientist @hydroxide urges people to “ALWAYS” take fish out of vacuum sealing before thawing or cooking. This is because Clostridium botulinum survives without oxygen.
People were shocked.
“I’m sorry what? I’ve been thawing fish like this my entire life. I’m 51,” one commented on @hydroxide’s post. “This is literally the first time hearing this.”
Reactions to @freethesudanippl2’s post were similar. “Every day. Everyday out here I’m finding something else to be paranoid about,” wrote one.
Another wondered, “How are any of us alive atp?”
Some other rules of thumb for safely defrosting meat include never doing it on the counter, in the sink, or in a water bath. This applies to all meat, not just fish. But when it comes to fish, it’s even more important to remove it from that vacuum-sealed bag and defrost it in the refrigerator. Your life could depend on it.
@freethesudanippl2 @hydroxide – food scientist
BroBible contacted @freethesudanippl2 via TikTok direct message and @hydroxide via email. As of this writing, neither had responded.