I don't have time to read this whole post so sorry if this is duplicate info, but I lay all my feeders out in a shallow cardboard box and put it under a light to thaw. The light is not directly on them,but about two feet above. This slowly thaws them, but doesn't make them as squishy as thawing in a bag in hot water. I move the light closer for a few minutes prior to feeding them so they are nice and warm and dry.