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Q:
Does anyone have a good explanation as to why you are never supposed to refreeze meat? My deer steaks come from the processors in 3 packs and it's just me eating and I only eat one steak at a time. I have to defrost all three to have one for dinner, and I like to pack the other two separately and refreeze them for later so I'm not eating steak three days in a row.
Question by hunt_fish_sleep. Uploaded on January 23, 2012
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Answers (12)
It just breaks down the protein more and more each time you refreeze it so it's really just the texture you will probably notice. It's not that the meat has gone bad or anything. It's still safe to eat.
Wash the blood off after it thaws and you should be fine.
You can Refreeze your Meat.
www.stackexchang.com/questions
I refreeze meat all the time. The secret is you can't let it spoil before you refreeze it. I have been doing it for years.
in the restaurant/food service biz you know that some times meat does need to be refrozen and there is no effect, some people even use it as a means of tenderizing cuts...
Sarge01 is closest to the answer for why it is commonly held that you should not refreeze. Every time you thaw meat the bacteria have a chance to increase and freezing doesn't always/often kill the bacteria. Since game meat is often eaten med. rare to rare you run the risk of ingesting some food borne pathogen.
It also doesn't do a lot for the texture as OHH points out but I have refrozen lots of meat with no ill effects or noticeable change in texture.
You should never do it if it smells bad or stays out for too long. If it goes back in the freezer while still cold, but not frozen, you shouldn't have any problems. If in doubt, cook to the appropriate temp even if it is a little overdone for your taste.
What's wrong with eating steak three days in a row?!
Refreezing should be fine, as long as the meat stays cold as it thaws. Thaw it in your fridge instead of on the counter.
And find a processor who will package your meat the way you want it (some will individually vacuum seal steaks, but this can be more expensive). Better yet, if you have the time / ability, do it yourself. I use a little vacuum bag system made by Reynolds, cheap and highly effective.
one reason i do it myself, but as others have said, it's just fine to refreeze it.
When I defrost. Just do it enough to seperate the steaks. I do it and they are still mostly frozen.
I'm currently in college living in an apartment so I have nowhere I could process it or I would do it myself. This is the first deer I have taken to a processor, and it sure is easier, but as pointed out, you don't get things just the way you like them, and it cost me $120
I would agree with GERG. I too will unthaw steaks just to seperate them and then vaccum pack and refreeze them. Never had a problem.
No problem refreezing if you take care that the meat is still fresh. Why not ask your processor to pack and wrap in smaller quantities or to seperate the steaks with wax paper next time?
Post an Answer
What's wrong with eating steak three days in a row?!
Refreezing should be fine, as long as the meat stays cold as it thaws. Thaw it in your fridge instead of on the counter.
And find a processor who will package your meat the way you want it (some will individually vacuum seal steaks, but this can be more expensive). Better yet, if you have the time / ability, do it yourself. I use a little vacuum bag system made by Reynolds, cheap and highly effective.
one reason i do it myself, but as others have said, it's just fine to refreeze it.
When I defrost. Just do it enough to seperate the steaks. I do it and they are still mostly frozen.
I would agree with GERG. I too will unthaw steaks just to seperate them and then vaccum pack and refreeze them. Never had a problem.
It just breaks down the protein more and more each time you refreeze it so it's really just the texture you will probably notice. It's not that the meat has gone bad or anything. It's still safe to eat.
Wash the blood off after it thaws and you should be fine.
You can Refreeze your Meat.
www.stackexchang.com/questions
I refreeze meat all the time. The secret is you can't let it spoil before you refreeze it. I have been doing it for years.
in the restaurant/food service biz you know that some times meat does need to be refrozen and there is no effect, some people even use it as a means of tenderizing cuts...
Sarge01 is closest to the answer for why it is commonly held that you should not refreeze. Every time you thaw meat the bacteria have a chance to increase and freezing doesn't always/often kill the bacteria. Since game meat is often eaten med. rare to rare you run the risk of ingesting some food borne pathogen.
It also doesn't do a lot for the texture as OHH points out but I have refrozen lots of meat with no ill effects or noticeable change in texture.
You should never do it if it smells bad or stays out for too long. If it goes back in the freezer while still cold, but not frozen, you shouldn't have any problems. If in doubt, cook to the appropriate temp even if it is a little overdone for your taste.
I'm currently in college living in an apartment so I have nowhere I could process it or I would do it myself. This is the first deer I have taken to a processor, and it sure is easier, but as pointed out, you don't get things just the way you like them, and it cost me $120
No problem refreezing if you take care that the meat is still fresh. Why not ask your processor to pack and wrap in smaller quantities or to seperate the steaks with wax paper next time?
Post an Answer