Linda wrote:
With regard to thawing meats, etc.: I've found that I can thaw just about anything on my granite counter (or in a big cast iron skillet) in only two to three hours (turning it once). I often have a last minute inspiration and haven't anything ready to prepare so this practice saves me.
That only works if you are home to do the thawing. I get home from work around 6:30 PM, and having something thaw on my counter until 9 or 10 pm won't help me with dinner. I do that when I think ahead, but a lot of time I use the microwave or a pot of cool water so we can eat at a reasonable hour.
--Lisa