Thawing Food At Room Temperature Could Lead To. The safest way to defrost food is in the fridge. Defrosting food under cold running water.

For instance, thawing it at room temperature could create a breeding ground for the multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms. Defrosting under cold running water is the least preferred method of defrosting as it can be quite easy for the food item to reach temperatures within the temperature danger zone. One way to prevent foodborne illness is to control the temperature of food and to keep food out of the temperature danger zone.