When I thaw my mice out for my snake, I fill up the sink with very hot water, put the mice in a Ziploc bag, get all air I can out of the bag, seal it and weigh the bag down with coffee cups so it will stay submerged. Depending on how hot the water is, it will take maybe 15-20 minutes or so for the mice to thaw out. I give them to my snake immediately after. I have noticed that he strikes at the ones I thaw out in the hot water faster than the ones I thaw out on the counter at room temperature.