Is it allowed to freeze thawed items again?
The biggest concerns when freezing thawed food are usually of a health-related nature: during the slow thawing and warming of food, it is possible for harmful germs to settle on the products.
2020-12-10
Did you hear advice: Never re-freeze thawed food! But is this true and is it still relevant? From a microbiological point of view, the all-clear is given for repeated freezing.
What problems can arise with repeated freezing?
The biggest concerns when freezing thawed food are usually of a health-related nature: during the slow thawing and warming of food, it is possible for harmful germs to settle on the products. This can spoil the food and become a health hazard for those who eat it. Depending on the type of product, the risk of health damage from repeatedly defrosted food is relatively low.
The product groups described below vary greatly in terms of the germ contamination to be expected:
- Prepared dishes (home-cooked or finished product).
- Raw food.
- Food consumed without previous cooking.
Amy's Organic Frozen Margherita Pizza, Hand-Stretched Crust
- One full-size frozen Margherita Pizza the whole family will love
- Non GMO, certified Kosher, soy and tree nut free, and suitable for vegetarian diets
- Savory, house-made pizza sauce made from organic tomatoes with mozzarella cheese, Parmesan and basil
- Light, fresh-tasting pizza that's simply scrumptious and easy to prepare
4,6 Rating
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Does the product quality suffer during repeated defrosting?
The answer to this question is clearly yes. Freezing damages the cell structure of the food, which means that fruit, for example, is often mushy after thawing. This effect is intensified during the second freezing and re-thawing process, which is why the food often becomes unsightly. The taste of many products also suffers from repeated thawing.
365 by Whole Foods Market, Frozen Cauliflower Crust Pizza
- Topped with a blend of mozzarella and fontina cheeses over tangy tomato sauce, we don't call it awesome cheese pizza with a cauliflower crust - we just call it awesome cheese pizza. Slice hot and enjoy!
- Made with cauliflower, mozzarella and cage-free whites egg.
- Certified Gluten-Free.
3,7 Rating
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Refreezing prepared dishes
No matter if you prefer a ready-made frozen dish or food prepared at home: You can easily refreeze leftovers from your already defrosted meals if the dish is reheated sufficiently before consumption. Possibly contained harmful germs are killed off in the oven, cooking pot or microwave, so there is no health hazard when eating. Before repeatedly freezing the food, you should make sure that it is not left unchilled for more than two hours. In this way you can additionally prevent the formation of germs. Please note that ready-made meals in particular lose a lot of their aroma during repeated thawing.
Refreezing raw food
Do you want to cook the defrosted food before eating it? Then there is no health hazard from repeated freezing. If you want to eat fruit or vegetables raw, it is important to make sure that no germs can settle on the food during the first and each subsequent thawing: The fruit or vegetables must always remain chilled, i.e. defrost in the refrigerator. Repeatedly thawed animal products should not be eaten raw due to the health hazard in case of germ contamination. Due to their high water content, the structure of most fruits and vegetables suffers so much that the rethawed fruits look unappetizing.
CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN Crispy Thin Crust Frozen Pizza Margherita
- Margherita Recipe Crispy Thin Crust Frozen Pizza with vine-ripened tomatoes, sweet basil, 100% real cheese, and no artificial flavors
- We source premium ingredients and create delicious combinations, so every bite is made to please
- Easy to cook. Preheat your oven, remove all packaging, and cook for 17-18 minutes. Don't forget to recycle the box and clean cardboard circle
4,4 Rating
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Refreezing unheated food
Frozen foods that are not heated before consumption must not be left unchilled for more than two hours if you want to freeze them again. Otherwise the risk of increased germ contamination is high. For the sake of your health, however, you should not refreeze such food, especially if it contains ingredients of animal origin (e.g. ice cream or pastries).
Your choice
Top pick
4,6 Rating
Amy's Organic Frozen Margherita Pizza, Hand-Stretched Crust
Amy's Margherita Pizza is a delicious and truly unique pizza the whole family will love.
Perfect Pick
4,4 Rating
CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN Crispy Thin Crust Frozen Pizza Margherita
At CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN, we want you to grab delicious and fresh flavor experiences by the slice, and be inspired by unique tastes.
Editor’s Pick
3,7 Rating
365 by Whole Foods Market, Frozen Cauliflower Crust Pizza, Cheese
Rich, pureed cauliflower browns and crisps when baked, while mozzarella and cage-free egg whites add chewiness and baked cheese aromas.
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