If (like me) you forget to thaw your meat ahead of time, don't worry. Crockpot ribs can still be in your (near) future. Here's how you can thaw ribs quickly and safely. Keep your ribs in their packaging or in a sealed ziptop bag. Fill a large bowl with cold water, and submerge your ribs in the water, adding something on top of them to keep them from floating to the top. Leave the ribs for about 30 minutes, then check to see if they are thawed. If they are still frozen, drain the water and refill with fresh cold water.