Meat RefrozenThere is an urban legend that claims eating refrozen meat can make you sick. That is untrue. Only if you defrost the meat improperly, such as by leaving it out on a counter overnight and allowing it to sit at a temperature where bacteria can thrive, will that occur.

Since fresh meat spoils quickly, freezing is a popular method of preservation. Meat stored below 0°F (-18°C) for a number of days not only helps preserve it but may also help reduce the risk of various foodborne infections including toxoplasmosis.

After defrosting frozen meat, you could decide not to cook it completely.

Meat can be refrozen as a general rule as long as it:

  • was properly kept in the refrigerator and thawed.
  • was frozen again in 3–4 days.
  • was not exposed to room temperature for more than two hours.
  • did not stay in temperatures exceeding 90°F (32°C) for more than an hour.

For instance, frequent freezing and thawing of beef may lead to changes in color, flavor, and moisture content as well as a rise in protein and fat oxidation.

During oxidation, electrons are moved from one atom to another. Meats may see a considerable quality decline if this occurs.

Any modifications to a meat’s capacity to hold onto moisture may also have a substantial impact on the meat’s softness and juiciness.

Meat is routinely frozen to preserve and keep the product safe when it won’t be consumed right away. Meat can be securely frozen more than once as long as it has been adequately preserved and allowed to gradually defrost in the refrigerator. Refreezing meat without harming it has no health risks.

However, the quality of the meat could be adversely affected depending on the type of meat and how frequently it is refrozen. Use a recommended thawing approach, such as thawing in the refrigerator, if you think you might want to refreeze all or some of the meat you’ve defrosted.

PDO Kimberly M. Tanador, RND

References:

Is It Safe to Refreeze Raw Meat and Poultry that Has Thawed?

https://food.unl.edu/article/it-safe-refreeze-raw-meat-and-poultry-has-thawed#:~:text=The%20U.%20S.%20Dept.,the%20moisture%20lost%20through%20thawing.

Can You Refreeze Meat? The Answer Is Not So Simple

https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/cooking-tips-tutorials/a36972979/can-you-refreeze-meat/

Can You Refreeze Meat?

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/can-you-refreeze-meat