I asked this exact question when I first started making my own baby food. After all, sometimes it is just easier to buy frozen (and cheaper). I did a little digging several months ago and found the USDA site. It states:
“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 defrosting. 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.”
I have also found many books and a few websites that state the same thing. And for me that was confirmation enough to go ahead and continue. But of course if you don’t feel comfortable with doing it, don’t! Trust your instincts. Also speak with your pediatrician. He/She may have valuable info to pass on. And of course if you find out anything from a reliable source please pass it on to us!
10 Comments
Join the discussionFresh peaches were frozen. got out of freezer to use, forgot @ them. Out of refrig. 3 hrs. Completely thawed. Can they be re-frozen or thrown out ?
I would use them, they are going to lose quality if frozen again.
Frozen veggies thawed, can we referee?
You can refreeze them, but they may lose quality being frozen a second time.
What about the bags of veggies that you can cook from frozen? That don’t need thawed? Is it okay to cook them from frozen then referee even?
Hi Danielle per the USDA “After cooking raw foods which were previously frozen, it is safe to freeze the cooked foods. ” I believe the bags of veggies you are referring to are raw that you cook in the microwave? I think it would be okay to refreeze those as well based on the USDA recommendation, but again, you can check with your pediatrician first if you’re concerned.
I wanted to make popsicles using frozen fruit that is not in season, so I wondered about refreezing the fruit after defrosting it. Apparently I can do that. Happy to know.
thansk
I forgot frozen vegetable in a bag in the garage for 10 hours it was in the 70’s
Are they still good
They should probably be thrown out. Bacteria grows rapidly at temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F. So even assuming thawing time – they would have come to and remained at this temperature for quite awhile. Sorry! Not a fun thing!!