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[Hsut77]

Their are alot more variables for problematic bacterial growth than just how it is defrosted. The problem with 'nasties' is the number of them on the food item when it is offered to your snake. Nasties can live at 4 deg. C, but have trouble reproducing/growing what ever term floats your boat.

Freezing and defrosting is only a 'control' of the nasties and it would depend on how many were originally on/in the item. ie if the rat had just 2 of a problem causing nasie on/in it and it doubled every 2min for half an hour (in hot water for example) you would have 131072 at the end. What would happen if you started with 10, 20 or 1000. The key to food prep is to keep the food in of the 'Danger Zone' - 6deg c - 60 deg c for the least amount of time. I'd say that most peoples approaches are good, but never leave a food item out overnight to defrost on the bench, for a Snake, Human, Dog whatever.