OT - Freezer door left open...

Hans61

The freezer door got left open and by the time I discovered it the meat I had in it had thawed. It was still cold. Am I okay to close the lid and let it re-freeze or should I cook it tomorrow. We're hosting a grill out anyway, was going to serve a loin, what I had in the freezer was six fillet mignons and 3 slabs of spares, and a couple packages of chicken legs.

DMW

You would be OK freezing again, but hey, you have an opportunity, cook it all!

Wolfpack

I tend to lean towards caution- cook it and celebrate

ColtsFan

Have a feast! 

RRP

too late now, but after having an upright freezer do that to us I installed an inexpensive hasp and screwed it to the body and door and placed a nail thru the closed hasp. Not purdy, but neither is the loss of the contents that we suffered! 

Jeremiah

Food poisoning or a few bucks in the trash. Toss it. 

nolaegghead

I vote for food poisoning!!!  Eat it!!

(when I go outside I'm totally going for the lightening or meteor strike!!!)

If it was still cold it's fine, unless this happened a year ago and you just noticed.

jabam

I had the power go out with about 100 lbs of beef in it. The steaks were almost thawed out still frozen in the middle. The hamburger was completely thawed, but still cold. I refrooze it all and I'm still alive. Just sayin. 

Hans61

I'm refreezing. when I thaw again (intentionally next time) if there's an off smell I'll pitch it. You all believe in the smell test for safety? 

HeavyG

Hans61 said:

I'm refreezing. when I thaw again (intentionally next time) if there's an off smell I'll pitch it. You all believe in the smell test for safety? 

It usually works. Usually.

Ozzie_Isaac

Seafood cook it, rest refreeze.

DoubleEgger

I'd cook the filets. Refreezing might affect texture and taste. 

Mud Pig

I'd throw a party and cook it all. On a side note, beyond getting a good deal on meat why do you freeze uncooked meat?  Why not just establish a relationship with a good butcher and buy what you need for the week. The meat will taste better and you won't risk losing a freezer full of savings next time. 

I I generally cook what I buy fresh and only freeze leftovers.

Hans61

Mud Pig said:

I'd throw a party and cook it all. On a side note, beyond getting a good deal on meat why do you freeze uncooked meat?  Why not just establish a relationship with a good butcher and buy what you need for the week. The meat will taste better and you won't risk losing a freezer full of savings next time. 

I I generally cook what I buy fresh and only freeze leftovers.

what i had frozen were killer deals i couldn't pass up. 6$ spares as an example 

blasting

Glad it wasn't a total loss for you @Hans61

I keep meaning to pick one of these up.  Next order it's going in the cart!


http://www.thermoworks.com/RT801

dougcrann

Mud Pig said:

I'd throw a party and cook it all. On a side note, beyond getting a good deal on meat why do you freeze uncooked meat?  Why not just establish a relationship with a good butcher and buy what you need for the week. The meat will taste better and you won't risk losing a freezer full of savings next time. 

I I generally cook what I buy fresh and only freeze leftovers.

You obviously don't live in the Spokane area. Only a few Butchers in the area... and they are very proud of what they sell. Recently one of the grocers had flat irons on sale at 5.99@pound. Eggers was 9.99@pound. I can get spares from Cash and Carry for $2.20@pound. Butcher wanted close to double. Wife and,I are both collecting disability...ain't no way we can afford to but meat from a butcher...
Must be nice to have deep pockets...

jtcBoynton

Hans61 said:

I'm refreezing. when I thaw again (intentionally next time) if there's an off smell I'll pitch it. You all believe in the smell test for safety? 

NO.  The pathogens that cause food poisoning do not create odors.  What you may smell is food spoilage, which affects quality but not safety.  Smell is often used as an indicator for safety based on the assumption that food old enough to spoil has been around long enough to also develop safety issues.  It is not a direct indicator of safety.  

jtcBoynton

Mud Pig said:

.... On a side note, beyond getting a good deal on meat why do you freeze uncooked meat?  ....

I prefer buying fresh. I do however have some uncooked meat in the freezer (mostly pork butt).  Price is one reason.  Around here the price for pork butt has varied in the last year from just over $1 per pound to about $4 per pound.  Quality wise frozen pork butt works as well as fresh.

Second reason for having some frozen meat around is I am not so organized that I know what meals I will be cooking a week in advance.  3-4 days is my normal menu planning horizon.  Some times it is more convenient to grab something from the freezer than it is to go to the store to pick up the protein for a meal.

Chubbs

This happened to me recently. 8 hours with door open. All food completely thawed. Had to toss the shrimp we couldn't cook. Other than that it refroze and no one noticed anything. 

mikeinccfl

Stinks when that happens, but not literally.

Cook if thawed to 40 degrees or warmer for a short time. Trash if warmer or sat longer. The nasties start growing at 40 and don't smell. Hurts to lose the product but food poisoning is worse. 

Hans61

Wife had the final vote, all thrown away - thanks for all the input