Would this meat be safe to eat?

Ocarina

Hey guys. I was going to cook at home yesterday but decided not to as we went out and spent some money I won. I left this pork meat in the fridge to dethaw and it hasn't left the fridge and I'm worried if I put it back in the freezer it will be bad. It hasn't gone below the fridge temperature but it's been almost 48 hours. Thanks!

Rilke

Yeah, don't put it back in the freezer. But it should be fine to cook and eat.

http://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/meatinrefrig.html

jo_marnes

Eat, don't re freeze

RoosterB

Eat it. It'll be fine. If not, you should just about be better by Christmas anyway
Wouldn't re-freeze though.

Nicola0000

Dont re-freeze. If you dont want it for dinner, maybe cook it anyway and have it as cold meat for sandwiches?

adlwilmot

The rule is "freeze once and once only". HOWEVER, you CAN go on to refreeze it once it's cooked.

Umeboshi

I often re-freeze my meat and have never gotten sick.

From the USDA:

Refreezing
Once food is thawed in the refrigerator, it is safe to refreeze it without cooking, although there may be a loss of quality due to the moisture lost through thawing. After cooking raw foods which were previously frozen, it is safe to freeze the cooked foods. If previously cooked foods are thawed in the refrigerator, you may refreeze the unused portion. Freeze leftovers within 3-4 days. Do not refreeze any foods left outside the refrigerator longer than 2 hours; 1 hour in temperatures above 90 °F.

If you purchase previously frozen meat, poultry or fish at a retail store, you can refreeze if it has been handled properly.

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/focus_on_freezing/index.asp

TourThePast

It's safe to refreeze meat, IF it's been in your fridge and IF your fridge is at the right temperature to store meat safely and IF it wasn't already at its use by date when you froze it.

Safe and good idea are two different things though, the freezing process in domestic freezers is pretty slow and adversely affects the texture and moisture content of raw meat. Personally I'd cook it and then freeze it, because it's nicer that way.

EDITED TO ADD: Congratulations on your win, hope you didn't blow the lot on chocolates! :bigsmile:

auctoritas

Refreezing is fine, you just risk changing the texture of the food a bit, which is why people always say "don't refreeze." Not a big deal at all though, I never really notice and I refreeze stuff all the time.

TourThePast

Not a big deal at all though, I never really notice and I refreeze stuff all the time.

Meat isn't so bad, fish is the very worst for refreezing, when commercially frozen by a half decent processor it's flash frozen and so contains small ice crystals and defrosts pretty much as it was when fresh.

When fish is frozen slowly using a cheap process, or refrozen at home, when it's defrosted you can sometimes literally squeeze water out of it like a sponge.

christibear

I was always told never refreeze meat, but if should be okay, just cook it to a safe temperature.

BobbyClerici

Yeah, don't put it back in the freezer. But it should be fine to cook and eat.

http://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/meatinrefrig.html

Yes, this is true, but refrozen meat loses some taste. Throw it in a crock pot with some white beans, some cajun seasoning, onions and let her rip for 16 hours on low.

koosdel

I can't believe no one asked if there were any bugs crawling on it. I mean, dang.. that's kinda important.