Frozen food can be thawed on the counter.

It seems reasonable to think that setting frozen food out on the counter to defrost at room temperature would be safe; however, it can expose food to bacteria. The best and safest way to thaw frozen food is to place it in the refrigerator. This can require additional planning, as it can take up to 24 hours for meat to thaw this way. If you are in a rush, you can defrost food by placing it in a sealed bag in cold water (but be sure to change the water every 30 minutes), or in the microwave as a last resort.