Here's Why You Should Wait Before Cooking Food From The Fridge
The refrigerator is probably one of the most convenient kitchen appliances that has made storing food and cooking easier in more ways than one. However, one mistake we often unknowingly commit when cooking in a hurry is using ingredients straight out of the fridge. If you are guilty of using this shortcut, you should ditch it if you want to preserve the quality of your food and reduce your cooking time.
Here's why — firstly, cold food generally takes longer to heat up before it begins to cook, as affirmed by Healthline. This is because it has low thermal (heat) energy and absorbs heat energy slowly (via Amigo Energy). Secondly, cold food also lowers the temperature of the cooking vessel, and more energy and time are needed for it to heat up evenly.
Similar to the principle of the 'temperature gradient' in general cooking, the outer layer of cold food cooks faster while the inside remains cold or undercooked, and this makes it more susceptible to retaining bacteria and other harmful microorganisms. You can try to cook your meat longer to reach the desired internal temperature, but this will overcook the outer layer. Consequently, the food will have varying textures that will render it unpleasant to eat.
How long should you wait for cold food to come to room temperature?
The key to preventing the aforementioned problems is allowing cold foods to rest outside the fridge so that they attain a uniform, warmer temperature, which you can check with a food thermometer. According to Well+Good, Chef Paul Kahan recommends leaving refrigerated food out for around 30 minutes to let it reach room temperature to ensure quicker and more even cooking. Kahan told the outlet, "If you start something that's ice-cold in a pan, it doesn't cook nearly as evenly or as well as if it tempers a little bit."
The same also applies to baking eggs and dairy products, as Allison Ferraro explained in Always Eat Dessert. She wrote, "Room temperature ingredients can be more easily blended together to create a smooth mixture." Interestingly, it is advisable to even let defrosted meats in the refrigerator sit at room temperature before you cook them for several reasons including preservation of moisture. This helps with preserving the meat's tenderness as well as getting an even cook.
Taking time to prepare your meal is crucial and scientifically beneficial for good and healthy cooking, as Everyday Health points out. That 30-minute wait can make a significant difference in the taste, texture, and safety of your food.