I have always let mine thaw in the window at home for a couple hours. Usually when I buy the frozen I have to run other errands to so it sits in the car thawing until I get home, then if it's still cold I set it on the porch to warm up. Then at bout 8pm I feed the thawed rat to Toke. Haven't had a problem except the first time when it wasn't thawed well and she spit it out and didn't touch it. Not sure if this is "safe" but I figure snakes on the wild eat all kinds a things so it shouldn't hurt. No worse than letting meat thaw in the sink at home I guess. in also only feeding her rat pups. Just stepped her up yo two tonight but she refused so either they weren't warm enough or she's in shed mode. I think her eyes are getting bluish. Hard to tell with the way she's hiding 24\7.....