I can see why you would be nervous about such a thing.
Generally I don't keep meat past its date or if it smells, but I do freeze a lot, it usually takes about 24 hours to defrost something small like chicken breasts or sausages in the fridge and 48 for a medium sized joint. You have to use it as soon as it is defrosted though, I wouldn't leave it another day after.
I will defrost in the microwave if I am cooking it straight away, a pack of mince takes about 10-15 mins to defrost. I have cooked mince straight from frozen and a lot of pre-frozen meat say to cook from frozen too.
I defrost prawns under that tap for salad or just cook them from frozen.
As long as it is cooked right through there should be no problem. Maybe invest in a meat thermometer to put your mind at rest, they are just a couple of pounds.
Frozen meat generally needs to be eaten in 3 months I think, so you just need to label it when you put it in.
I have never poisoned myself or anyone else by the way, and I pretty much follow what my mum does and she have never poisoned anybody either.
The only time I have know anyone get food poisoning at home is when my step dad didn't reheat last nights chinese properly the next day (probably the rice), OH DEAR! PMSL. Some men will never listen.