What, if any, are the rproblems with re-freezing food, or should it be done at
all? The thing I'm most interested in would be this: I make a batch of meatballs
and put them in the freezer. I take a few out and put them in fresh tomato sauce
for a meal or two. There's still a couple left and I want to freeze the sauce
along with the meatballs (again for the meatballs.) Problems? Thanks.

> ha scritto nel messaggio
...
> What, if any, are the rproblems with re-freezing food, or should it be
> done at
> all? The thing I'm most interested in would be this: I make a batch of
> meatballs
> and put them in the freezer. I take a few out and put them in fresh tomato
> sauce
> for a meal or two. There's still a couple left and I want to freeze the
> sauce
> along with the meatballs (again for the meatballs.) Problems? Thanks.

You can refreze only if you cook the meatballs.
Generally, You can't refreeze defrosted food, unless you cook it before.

--
Cheers
Pandora

Pandora > wrote:

> You can refreze only if you cook the meatballs.
> Generally, You can't refreeze defrosted food, unless you cook it before.

Even the overly conservative USDA says it's OK to re-freeze meat,
poultry and fish whether it was cooked or not.

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FactSheets/...g/index.asp#14

-sw

> wrote in message
...
> What, if any, are the rproblems with re-freezing food, or should it be
> done at
> all? The thing I'm most interested in would be this: I make a batch of
> meatballs
> and put them in the freezer. I take a few out and put them in fresh tomato
> sauce
> for a meal or two. There's still a couple left and I want to freeze the
> sauce
> along with the meatballs (again for the meatballs.) Problems? Thanks.

I don't think there is any health risk in re-freezing, as long as other
safety precautions were followed (not left standing at room temperature for
too long, care in handling, etc.). I think the primary problem in
re-freezing is that quality sometimes deteriorates, but I have never found
that to be noticeable.

MaryL

"Sqwertz" schrieb :
> Pandora wrote:
>
>> You can refreze only if you cook the meatballs.
>> Generally, You can't refreeze defrosted food, unless you cook it before.
>
> Even the overly conservative USDA says it's OK to re-freeze meat,
> poultry and fish whether it was cooked or not.
>
> http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FactSheets/...g/index.asp#14
>
Yes, and they are right as far as health is concerned. However, anyone who
has
ever tasted thawed an refrozen fish or meat won't ever refreeze the raw.

Cheers,

Michael Kuettner

Michael Kuettner > wrote:

> "Sqwertz" schrieb :
>> Pandora wrote:
>>
>>> You can refreze only if you cook the meatballs.
>>> Generally, You can't refreeze defrosted food, unless you cook it before.
>>
>> Even the overly conservative USDA says it's OK to re-freeze meat,
>> poultry and fish whether it was cooked or not.
>>
>> http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FactSheets/...g/index.asp#14
>>
> Yes, and they are right as far as health is concerned. However, anyone who
> has
> ever tasted thawed an refrozen fish or meat won't ever refreeze the raw.

Meatballs in tomato sauce probably won't suffer a bit. But yeah -
especailly refrozen beef - sucks.

-sw

-sw

"Sqwertz" > ha scritto nel messaggio
...
> Pandora > wrote:
>
>> You can refreze only if you cook the meatballs.
>> Generally, You can't refreeze defrosted food, unless you cook it before.
>
> Even the overly conservative USDA says it's OK to re-freeze meat,
> poultry and fish whether it was cooked or not.
>
> http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FactSheets/...g/index.asp#14
>
> -sw

I don't believe. Perhaps it is a JOKE!

--
Cheers
Pandora

"Michael Kuettner" > ha scritto nel messaggio
...
>
> "Sqwertz" schrieb :
>> Pandora wrote:
>>
>>> You can refreze only if you cook the meatballs.
>>> Generally, You can't refreeze defrosted food, unless you cook it before.
>>
>> Even the overly conservative USDA says it's OK to re-freeze meat,
>> poultry and fish whether it was cooked or not.
>>
>> http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FactSheets/...g/index.asp#14
>>
> Yes, and they are right as far as health is concerned. However, anyone who
> has
> ever tasted thawed an refrozen fish or meat won't ever refreeze the raw.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Michael Kuettner
>
>

Here in Italy HACCP rules says you sholdn't refreze.

--
Cheers
Pandora

Pandora wrote:
> "Michael Kuettner" > ha scritto nel messaggio
> ...
>> "Sqwertz" schrieb :
>>> Pandora wrote:
>>>
>>>> You can refreze only if you cook the meatballs.
>>>> Generally, You can't refreeze defrosted food, unless you cook it before.
>>> Even the overly conservative USDA says it's OK to re-freeze meat,
>>> poultry and fish whether it was cooked or not.
>>>
>>> http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FactSheets/...g/index.asp#14
>>>
>> Yes, and they are right as far as health is concerned. However, anyone who
>> has
>> ever tasted thawed an refrozen fish or meat won't ever refreeze the raw.
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Michael Kuettner
>>
>>
>
> Here in Italy HACCP rules says you sholdn't refreze.
>
NO WAY! would I refreeze EVER! Would love to have a look at the
science behind this FDA Data sheet ?

"phil-c" > wrote in message
...
> Pandora wrote:
>> "Michael Kuettner" > ha scritto nel messaggio
>> ...
>>> "Sqwertz" schrieb :
>>>> Pandora wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> You can refreze only if you cook the meatballs.
>>>>> Generally, You can't refreeze defrosted food, unless you cook it
>>>>> before.
>>>> Even the overly conservative USDA says it's OK to re-freeze meat,
>>>> poultry and fish whether it was cooked or not.
>>>>
>>>> http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FactSheets/...g/index.asp#14
>>>>
>>> Yes, and they are right as far as health is concerned. However, anyone
>>> who has
>>> ever tasted thawed an refrozen fish or meat won't ever refreeze the raw.
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>>
>>> Michael Kuettner
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Here in Italy HACCP rules says you sholdn't refreze.
>>
> NO WAY! would I refreeze EVER! Would love to have a look at the
> science behind this FDA Data sheet ?

Right, don't ever refreeze water.

Pandora > wrote:

> "Sqwertz" > ha scritto nel messaggio
> ...
>> Pandora > wrote:
>>
>> Even the overly conservative USDA says it's OK to re-freeze meat,
>> poultry and fish whether it was cooked or not.
>>
>> http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FactSheets/...g/index.asp#14
>
> I don't believe. Perhaps it is a JOKE!

Write them and tell them they're a joke. They're used to it.

-sw

On Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:59 -0500, wrote:

>What, if any, are the rproblems with re-freezing food, or should it be done at
>all? The thing I'm most interested in would be this: I make a batch of meatballs
>and put them in the freezer. I take a few out and put them in fresh tomato sauce
>for a meal or two. There's still a couple left and I want to freeze the sauce
>along with the meatballs (again for the meatballs.) Problems? Thanks.

Thanks. I should have been a little more specific. The meatballs were already
cooked when I first froze them. I took them out, thawed them and used them in
gravy. Now I want to refreeze.

> wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:59 -0500, wrote:
>
>>What, if any, are the rproblems with re-freezing food, or should it be
>>done at
>>all? The thing I'm most interested in would be this: I make a batch of
>>meatballs
>>and put them in the freezer. I take a few out and put them in fresh tomato
>>sauce
>>for a meal or two. There's still a couple left and I want to freeze the
>>sauce
>>along with the meatballs (again for the meatballs.) Problems? Thanks.
>
> Thanks. I should have been a little more specific. The meatballs were
> already
> cooked when I first froze them. I took them out, thawed them and used them
> in
> gravy. Now I want to refreeze.

No reason meata balles in sauce can't be refrozed a half dozen times, so
long as it wasn't permitted to sit out at room temperature each time. And
it's kinda difficult to ruin the texture of meata balles in sauce by
freezing and refreezing... the very worst could happen is sauce bolognese

On Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:54:09 -0500, wrote:

>Thanks. I should have been a little more specific. The meatballs were already
>cooked when I first froze them. I took them out, thawed them and used them in
>gravy. Now I want to refreeze.

Go ahead and refreeze.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

"Sqwertz" > ha scritto nel messaggio
...
> Pandora > wrote:
>
>> "Sqwertz" > ha scritto nel messaggio
>> ...
>>> Pandora > wrote:
>>>
>>> Even the overly conservative USDA says it's OK to re-freeze meat,
>>> poultry and fish whether it was cooked or not.
>>>
>>> http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FactSheets/...g/index.asp#14
>>
>> I don't believe. Perhaps it is a JOKE!
>
> Write them and tell them they're a joke. They're used to it.
>
> -sw

I will leave italian goverment to write them

--
Cheers
Pandora

On Sun, 22 Feb 2009 15:50:59 -0600, Sqwertz wrote:

> Michael Kuettner > wrote:
>
>> "Sqwertz" schrieb :
>>> Pandora wrote:
>>>
>>>> You can refreze only if you cook the meatballs.
>>>> Generally, You can't refreeze defrosted food, unless you cook it before.
>>>
>>> Even the overly conservative USDA says it's OK to re-freeze meat,
>>> poultry and fish whether it was cooked or not.
>>>
>>> http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FactSheets/...g/index.asp#14
>>>
>> Yes, and they are right as far as health is concerned. However, anyone who
>> has
>> ever tasted thawed an refrozen fish or meat won't ever refreeze the raw.
>
> Meatballs in tomato sauce probably won't suffer a bit. But yeah -
> especailly refrozen beef - sucks.
>
> -sw

that was my impression also - that it was never a safety issue, but mostly
a texture problem (especially with fish). i agree about the meatballs in
sauce.

your pal,
blake

On Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:02:54 -0600, Sqwertz wrote:

> Pandora > wrote:
>
>> "Sqwertz" > ha scritto nel messaggio
>> ...
>>> Pandora > wrote:
>>>
>>> Even the overly conservative USDA says it's OK to re-freeze meat,
>>> poultry and fish whether it was cooked or not.
>>>
>>> http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FactSheets/...g/index.asp#14
>>
>> I don't believe. Perhaps it is a JOKE!
>
> Write them and tell them they're a joke. They're used to it.
>
> -sw

it might be the first time someone wrote to tell them they weren't cautious
enough.

your pal,
blake

On Mon, 23 Feb 2009 09:55:40 +0100, Pandora wrote:

> "Sqwertz" > ha scritto nel messaggio
> ...
>> Pandora > wrote:
>>
>>> "Sqwertz" > ha scritto nel messaggio
>>> ...
>>>> Pandora > wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Even the overly conservative USDA says it's OK to re-freeze meat,
>>>> poultry and fish whether it was cooked or not.
>>>>
>>>> http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FactSheets/...g/index.asp#14
>>>
>>> I don't believe. Perhaps it is a JOKE!
>>
>> Write them and tell them they're a joke. They're used to it.
>>
>> -sw
>
> I will leave italian goverment to write them

warmonger.

your pal,
blake

phil-c > wrote:
> >
> NO WAY! would I refreeze EVER! Would love to have a look at the
> science behind this FDA Data sheet ?

The science is pretty simple. If it's safe to eat, it's safe to freeze.
So, if the food was thawed in a refrigerator and not left there too
long, there is no safety issue to refreezing it. Freezing pretty much
stops any baterial growth and if the item was not allowed to get too
warm or contaminated in some other way, there is no problem.

Quality/texture may suffer depending on the specific thing.

Bill Ranck
Blacksburg, Va.

wrote on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:13:04 +0000 (UTC):

> phil-c > wrote:
> >>
>> NO WAY! would I refreeze EVER! Would love to have a
>> look at the science behind this FDA Data sheet ?

> The science is pretty simple. If it's safe to eat, it's safe
> to freeze. So, if the food was thawed in a refrigerator and
> not left there too long, there is no safety issue to
> refreezing it. Freezing pretty much stops any baterial growth
> and if the item was not allowed to get too warm or
> contaminated in some other way, there is no problem.

> Quality/texture may suffer depending on the specific thing.

I freeze bread quite a lot and mold does grow on it in the freezer.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

blake murphy > wrote:

> it might be the first time someone wrote to tell them they weren't cautious
> enough.

Well, they did make it illegal for private beef processors to test
their own cattle for BSE.

That really takes the cake.

-sw

On Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:04:04 -0600, Sqwertz wrote:

> blake murphy > wrote:
>
>> it might be the first time someone wrote to tell them they weren't cautious
>> enough.
>
> Well, they did make it illegal for private beef processors to test
> their own cattle for BSE.
>
> That really takes the cake.
>
> -sw

the reasoning there was kind of tortured.

your pal,
blake

> wrote in message
...
> What, if any, are the rproblems with re-freezing food, or should it be
> done at
> all? The thing I'm most interested in would be this: I make a batch of
> meatballs
> and put them in the freezer. I take a few out and put them in fresh tomato
> sauce
> for a meal or two. There's still a couple left and I want to freeze the
> sauce
> along with the meatballs (again for the meatballs.) Problems? Thanks.

Freeze the meatballs in portions for one meal.
When you make your sauce separate what you need for that meal an add your
meatballs.
The extra sauce will need to be divided into portions then frozen.
You just thaw the remaining meatballs and sauce separate and mix when
heating.

Robert

"Robert" > wrote in message
...
>
> > wrote in message
> ...
>> What, if any, are the rproblems with re-freezing food, or should it be
>> done at
>> all? The thing I'm most interested in would be this: I make a batch of
>> meatballs
>> and put them in the freezer. I take a few out and put them in fresh
>> tomato sauce
>> for a meal or two. There's still a couple left and I want to freeze the
>> sauce
>> along with the meatballs (again for the meatballs.) Problems? Thanks.
>
> Freeze the meatballs in portions for one meal.
> When you make your sauce separate what you need for that meal an add your
> meatballs.
> The extra sauce will need to be divided into portions then frozen.
> You just thaw the remaining meatballs and sauce separate and mix when
> heating.
>
> Robert
>
That's like way too much unnecesary work.... better to freeze the meatballs
IN the sauce, saves on containers, saves freezer space... but most
importantly excludes air... so prevents freezer burn and greatly mitigates
textural decomposition of meat balls.

"brooklyn1" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Robert" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> What, if any, are the rproblems with re-freezing food, or should it be
>>> done at
>>> all? The thing I'm most interested in would be this: I make a batch of
>>> meatballs
>>> and put them in the freezer. I take a few out and put them in fresh
>>> tomato sauce
>>> for a meal or two. There's still a couple left and I want to freeze the
>>> sauce
>>> along with the meatballs (again for the meatballs.) Problems? Thanks.
>>
>> Freeze the meatballs in portions for one meal.
>> When you make your sauce separate what you need for that meal an add your
>> meatballs.
>> The extra sauce will need to be divided into portions then frozen.
>> You just thaw the remaining meatballs and sauce separate and mix when
>> heating.
>>
>> Robert
>>
> That's like way too much unnecesary work.... better to freeze the
> meatballs IN the sauce, saves on containers, saves freezer space... but
> most importantly excludes air... so prevents freezer burn and greatly
> mitigates textural decomposition of meat balls.
>

Then make the sauce and meatballs the same day and portion into individual
meals and freeze.

If you store them separate your not forced to serve the sauce with the
meatballs. You can use either of them for other dishes.

As for freezer space I use vacuum seal bags so together or separate it will
take the same amount of space.

Robert