10
Freezing Guidelines
(contd)
It’s happened to all of us, one day the freezer lid gets left open or the power goes out. Either way, you have a freezer full of food
and you don’t know what to do with it. The chart below is provided by the USDA and should be used as a guideline only. When
in doubt about food safety, it is always better to throw questionable food out.
Food or Food Type
Still contains ice crystals and
feels as cold as if refrigerated
Thawed.
Held above 40°F for over 2 hours
MEAT, POULTRY and SEAFOOD
Beef, veal, lamb, pork and ground meats
Refreeze
Discard
Poultry and ground poultry
Refreeze
Discard
Variety meats
(liver, kidney, heart, chitterlings)
Refreeze
Discard
Fish, shellfish, breaded seafood products
Refreeze, however, there will be some texture
and flavor loss
Discard
DAIRY
Milk
Refreeze, may lose some texture
Discard
Eggs (out of shell) and egg products
Refreeze
Discard
Ice cream, frozen yogurt
Discard
Discard
Cheese (soft and semi-soft)
Refreeze, may lose some texture
Discard
Hard cheeses
Refreeze
Refreeze
Shredded cheeses
Refreeze
Discard
Casseroles containing milk, cream, eggs,
soft cheeses
Refreeze
Discard
Cheesecake
Refreeze
Discard
FRUITS and VEGETABLES
Juices—fruit
Refreeze
Refreeze. Discard if mold, yeasty smell or
sliminess develops
Juices—vegetables
Refreeze
Discard after held above 40°F for 6 hours
Home, commercially packaged or blanched
Refreeze. Will change in texture and flavor
Discard after held above 40°F for 6 hours or
if mold, yeasty smell or sliminess develops
BREADS and PASTRIES
Breads, rolls, muffins,
cakes (without custard fillings)
Refreeze
Refreeze
Cakes, pies,
pastries with custard or cheese filling
Refreeze
Discard
Pie crusts, commercial and homemade
bread dough
Refreeze, some quality loss may occur.
Refreeze. Quality loss is considerable.
OTHER
Casseroles—pasta or rice based
Refreeze
Discard
Flour, cornmeal, nuts
Refreeze
Refreeze
Breakfast items—
waffles, pancakes, bagels
Refreeze
Refreeze
Frozen meal, entrée, specialty items
(pizza, sausage and biscuit, meat pie, and
convenience foods)
Refreeze
Discard
