Can You Thaw and Refreeze Meat Safely? The Cold Truth.

Posted in Our Weblog on June 7, 2024

Maintaining temperature delicate meals like meat, eggs, and dairy are an enormous a part of meals security. Maintaining scorching issues cold and warm issues chilly is a no brainer. However what about freezing and thawing? Are you able to thaw and refreeze meat safely?

Brief reply…

Sure.

However with many caveats.

Let’s talk about why.

Why Would You Have to Thaw and Refreeze Meat Safely?

You could be asking your self, how usually does this case come up. And for some individuals, it might not come up fairly often. Nonetheless, if it does, you need to know that you are able to do so safely.

For some individuals, procuring in bulk is an everyday prevalence. For others, not a lot.

On a couple of event I’ve discovered an ideal sale on giant packages of meat. I’ve the perfect of intentions to separate the meat into smaller parts and freeze them once I get house. However typically, life will get in the way in which.

The cellphone rings and good friend that moved away calls to catch up. I understand I’ve to be someplace. I get began cooking a meal. Any of those eventualities are potential.

The massive package deal sits on a pan within the fridge. I take a look at it a number of days in a row as I open the fridge to tug out an merchandise or put an merchandise again in.

Earlier than lengthy, I quit and put the complete package deal within the freezer in order that it doesn’t go dangerous.

An issue for an additional day.

However ultimately that day comes. And I’m set with a dilemma. Cook dinner the entire meat now? Or break it into smaller packages and freeze it once more.

Then I give it some thought. That meat will have to be thawed once more earlier than cooking. Is that protected? How protected is it to repeatedly thaw and refreeze meat like floor beef, pork chops or steak?

Consultants Say It’s Secure When Thawed Correctly, However High quality Will Undergo

Seems, if thawed correctly, it’s fully protected to thaw and refreeze meat with out situation. Nonetheless, high quality will undergo.

Repeated freezing and thawing meat will have an effect on texture and moisture. The meat will develop into dryer and fewer tasty, says Donald W. Schaffner, PhD, an extension specialist in meals science and professor at Rutgers College in New Jersey.

Whereas your abdomen could not undergo, your tastebuds may.

Security is About Temperature

If in case you have adopted this weblog or saved any eye or ear open for meals security, you’ve got heard about retaining scorching meals cold and warm meals chilly. This phrase is supposed to emphasize the significance of retaining meals exterior of the “hazard zone.”

The “hazard zone” ought to do greater than illicit photographs of a flight montage from High Gun. In relation to meals, the hazard zone is that comfortable vary the place micro organism can exponentially develop and reproduce.

Nice for the micro organism that get to stretch their legs and replicate. Not so nice for the potential shopper prone to get sick from all of that aforementioned legroom.

The temperature vary between 40 °F and 140 °F is that candy spot we need to keep away from with a purpose to forestall any micro organism already current within the meat from reproducing.

How NOT to Thaw and Refreeze Meat

In relation to thawing meat, you’ve got a number of choices. However there are some actions that you’ll want to keep away from.

One of many greatest no-no’s is thawing on the counter or within the sink. You’d be stunned how rapidly micro organism like E. coli and Salmonella can multiply at room temperature, says Taylor C. Wallace, PhD, adjunct professor of the division of vitamin and meals research at George Mason College in Virginia.

The Most secure Option to Thaw and Refreeze Meat is within the Fridge

Consultants say the most secure option to thaw meals, particularly meat, is within the fridge. A fridge set to a temperature under 40 °F permits meals to thaw however stays exterior of the dreaded hazard zone.

Ideally, you want your fridge set to 37 °F to permit for fluctuations in temperature, whereas nonetheless sustaining refrigerated, however not frozen meals inside it.

When correctly thawed within the fridge, sure meals objects reminiscent of floor meat, stew meat, poultry, and seafood can grasp on the market for a day or so earlier than cooking, in accordance with the USA Division of Agriculture (USDA). Different crimson meat cuts, reminiscent of beef, pork, or lamb roasts, chops, and steaks can stay a bit of longer. These can keep for 3 to 5 days earlier than they have to be cooked.

Chilly Water Thawing Methodology

If you want to thaw meat rapidly, the chilly water methodology is a good possibility. Place meat in a leakproof package deal or plastic bag and totally submerge it in chilly faucet water. Change the water each half-hour.

Whereas this can be a USDA urged methodology for thawing, you’ll want to prepare dinner it pretty rapidly. Meat thawed utilizing this methodology shouldn’t be refrozen.

Microwave Thawing Methodology

One other authorised thawing methodology entails your microwave. Utilizing the defrost operate, thaw meat in microwave following producer directions. This methodology additionally requires meat to be cooked instantly after. Some elements of the meat could have reached temperatures of 40 °F or increased throughout defrost, permitting any micro organism already current within the meat to start to multiply.

Each chilly water thawing and microwave thawing require meals to be cooked instantly. Nonetheless, cooked meals could also be refrozen with out situation.

Why is High quality Affected When You Thaw and Refreeze Meat Once more?

How precisely is high quality affected? Martin Bucknavage, senior meals security extension affiliate of Penn State’s division of meals science has a solution for that.

All of it comes right down to water.

Meat has a surprisingly excessive water content material. Each time the meat is frozen, the water inside it turns into ice crystals within the cells. This damages the molecular buildings throughout the meat. When it’s thawed once more, water is launched. With every subsequent freeze/thaw cycle increasingly moisture is misplaced.

This cannot solely have an effect on texture, but additionally result in much less juicy and rubbery meat.

Moreover, lipid and protein oxidation can happen by means of these free/thaw cycles. These chemical processes may cause the meat to have an off scent or doubtlessly style rancid.

Have You Ever Refrozen Meals?

As a rule of thumb, I typically use the fridge thaw methodology. In line with the specialists, I might preserve thawing and refreezing this manner if wanted. For high quality, nevertheless, it’s a good suggestion to take the time to prepare dinner the meat earlier than refreezing or work it into your meals that week.

Keep in Contact with Make Meals Secure!

For those who’d wish to know extra about meals security matters within the information, like “Can You Thaw and Refreeze Meat Safely?”, try the Make Meals Secure Weblog. We frequently replace trending matters, foodborne infections within the information, remembers, and extra! Keep tuned for high quality info to assist preserve your loved ones protected, whereas The Lange Regulation Agency, PLLC strives to Make Meals Secure!

By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing author, non-lawyer)