Crossword Genius

Defrosts what’s been cooked (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

thaws

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'defrosts' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to change as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'what's been cooked' is the wordplay.
'what's' can be anagrammed to 'THAWS'.
However, I am not clear how this is indicated.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for thaws that I've seen before include "Starts to unfreeze" , "(Of snow) melts" , "friendlier times?" , "As role of Morse was to become" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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