Defrosting food

[onway]

My ESB supply was off for approx. 10 hours yesterday - do I need to throw out the contents of my freezer ( lots of chicken!!!! )or would it still be safe to use ??

 

[Ancutza]

As long as you didn't open the door on the freezer I'd say it would still be okay.

No food-safety expert though!

 

[Slaphead]

This has happened to me loads of times (leaving the freezer door open at night etc) and ive allways kept the stuff.

Was it totally defrosted or what?

It might be wise not to serve it to small children (younger than 4 or so) or very old people but to be honest it just let it freeze again and forget about it.

 

[Joe1234]

My ESB supply was off for approx. 10 hours yesterday - do I need to throw out the contents of my freezer ( lots of chicken!!!! )or would it still be safe to use ??

After something similar a number of years ago, we claimed off the house insurance for the loss of the food in the freezer.

 

[Slaphead]

After something similar a number of years ago, we claimed off the house insurance for the loss of the food in the freezer.

an even better idea, but keep the food and all.

 

[kilomike]

Throw it out, half defrosted chicken is a recipe for disaster!

 

[liteweight]

Or you could cook the chicken and then freeze it.

 

[oopsbuddy]

Have a party, cook it all, get some beers in!! Although you could end up poisoning all your friends - but then again...only invite certain people!!

 

[Sue Ellen]

Or you could cook the chicken and then freeze it.

Have often wondered about this. If we aren't suppose to refreeze does cooking the meat change that situation. I always err on the side of caution and don't refreeze.

 

[pansyflower]

I would refreeze the vegetables but I'd have a rethink about the meat. If it is a chest freezer it is more likely that the contents wouldn't have thawed, however.

 

[Ancutza]

Did you open the freezer door whilst the power was off? If not then the likelhood is that it all stayed frozen so no worries!

 

[Brianp]

Food poisoning is not worth the risk for the sake of some chicken....when in doubt throw out.

 

[Gautama]

Have often wondered about this. If we aren't suppose to refreeze does cooking the meat change that situation. I always err on the side of caution and don't refreeze.

Some small Irish food company got in trouble for this recently. They claimed the food was fresh, when it had actually been frozen then thawed. They made no mention of this on the wrapper, or warned not to freeze the item.
Dodgy.
Ever had gastro-enterisis (sp??). Highly unpleasant.

 

[liteweight]

Have often wondered about this. If we aren't suppose to refreeze does cooking the meat change that situation. I always err on the side of caution and don't refreeze.

It's perfectly acceptable to cook meals e.g. chicken curry, casserole etc. and then refreeze. Presumably any bacteria in the meat is killed by the cooking. What's not acceptable is to thaw the meal and then refreeze it. On another thread, people complained that they suspected the meat they were buying in some supermarkets was frozen but sold as fresh. I have complained on occasion, to a large supermarket, about exactly the same thing.

 

[Sunny]

It's perfectly acceptable to cook meals e.g. chicken curry, casserole etc. and then refreeze. Presumably any bacteria in the meat is killed by the cooking. What's not acceptable is to thaw the meal and then refreeze it. On another thread, people complained that they suspected the meat they were buying in some supermarkets was frozen but sold as fresh. I have complained on occasion, to a large supermarket, about exactly the same thing.

I always thought you weren't meant to refreeze meat even if cooked. i.e. using a defrosted frozen chicken for your casserole. Could be wrong though.

 

[PM1234]

So - three days later. What was the outcome?

Personally I'd cook and refreeze red meat but would discard the chicken. Have heard too many horror stories.

 

[onway]

Sent an e-mail to 'Safefood' to ask for advice.Still waiting for a reply....

 

[onway]

'Safefood' say I should discard it - just in case . It's still in the freezer though.....

 

[liteweight]

I always thought you weren't meant to refreeze meat even if cooked. i.e. using a defrosted frozen chicken for your casserole. Could be wrong though.

It's not something I usually do but I have a Freezer Cookbook which says it's acceptable.

If the chicken has been refrozen while raw I wouldn't use it. The trick is to take it out and cook it immediately not three days later.

 

[triona]

When it comes to meat, you should always err on the side of caution. If it's partially defrosted and you don't intend to cook it throw it out - don't refreeze.

In order to put something back in the freezer which has been defrosted you have to change its state - from uncooked to cooked.