Freezer left open- has meat gone bad?!
We freeze meat in the freezer after we buy it!. We had some chicken and a bit of cube steak in there when we came home the other day and the freezer had been open the whole time!. The meat was completely defrosted (soft) but still refrigerater-temperature cold!. We closed the freezer!. I just now looked at it (it's been 2 days) and it has re-frozen!. The juice that had melted out of it is also re-frozen and the meat is a bit of a brownish color (the color it gets during cooking)!. Is this still good to eat!? Is the chicken still good to eat!? The chicken didn't change colors or anything!. Are our frozen veggies still good!? Is our wedding cake slice OK!? Thanks a bunch for any and all answers!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
A good rule of thumb is when in doubt, throw it out (you don't want food poisoning)!. Here is a link that I hope answers your questions!.
http://www!.avertdisasters!.org/html/frozf!.!.!.
You may safely refreeze some foods if they still contain ice crystals, or if they have been kept at 40 degrees (F) or below for no more than two (2) days!. If the temperature is above 50 degrees (F) throw the food away!
Canning: Foods that can not be refrozen but are safe to use may be canned immediately!.
Treat completely thawed foods as follows:
* Fruits: Refreeze fruits if they taste and smell good!. Fruit that is beginning to ferment is safe to eat, but will have an !. Such fruit could be used in cooking!.
* Frozen dinners: Do not refreeze frozen dinners that have thawed!.
* Vegetables: Do not refreeze thawed vegetables!. Bacteria in these foods multiply rapidly!. Spoilage may begin before bad odors develop!. Such spoilage may be very toxic!. Refreeze vegetables only if ice crystals remain throughout the package!. If you question the condition of any vegetables, throw them out!
* Meat and Poultry: Examine each package of thawed meat or poultry!. If odor is offensive or questionable, or if the freezer temperature has exceeded 40 degrees (F) for two (2) hours or more, don't use them! Discard all stuffed poultry!. Cook immediately thawed but unspoiled meat or poultry!. After cooking, meat can be refrozen!.
* Fish and shellfish: These are extremely perishable! Do not refreeze unless ice crystals remain throughout the package!. Seafood may be spoiled, even if it has no offensive odor!.
* Ice Cream: Do not refreeze melted ice cream!. Discard, or consume it in the liquid form before off-flavor develops!.
* Cook thawed frozen foods and frozen dinners immediately if they are still cold!. Do not refreeze!. If any foods have an offensive or questionable odor, do not eat them!Www@FoodAQ@Com
http://www!.avertdisasters!.org/html/frozf!.!.!.
You may safely refreeze some foods if they still contain ice crystals, or if they have been kept at 40 degrees (F) or below for no more than two (2) days!. If the temperature is above 50 degrees (F) throw the food away!
Canning: Foods that can not be refrozen but are safe to use may be canned immediately!.
Treat completely thawed foods as follows:
* Fruits: Refreeze fruits if they taste and smell good!. Fruit that is beginning to ferment is safe to eat, but will have an !. Such fruit could be used in cooking!.
* Frozen dinners: Do not refreeze frozen dinners that have thawed!.
* Vegetables: Do not refreeze thawed vegetables!. Bacteria in these foods multiply rapidly!. Spoilage may begin before bad odors develop!. Such spoilage may be very toxic!. Refreeze vegetables only if ice crystals remain throughout the package!. If you question the condition of any vegetables, throw them out!
* Meat and Poultry: Examine each package of thawed meat or poultry!. If odor is offensive or questionable, or if the freezer temperature has exceeded 40 degrees (F) for two (2) hours or more, don't use them! Discard all stuffed poultry!. Cook immediately thawed but unspoiled meat or poultry!. After cooking, meat can be refrozen!.
* Fish and shellfish: These are extremely perishable! Do not refreeze unless ice crystals remain throughout the package!. Seafood may be spoiled, even if it has no offensive odor!.
* Ice Cream: Do not refreeze melted ice cream!. Discard, or consume it in the liquid form before off-flavor develops!.
* Cook thawed frozen foods and frozen dinners immediately if they are still cold!. Do not refreeze!. If any foods have an offensive or questionable odor, do not eat them!Www@FoodAQ@Com
meat should never be refrozen, when it first became thawed it needed to be cooked, never chicken, and to tell you the truth i wouldn't eat the frozen vegetables either, the only that would be ok is the wedding cake
sorryWww@FoodAQ@Com
sorryWww@FoodAQ@Com