Refreezing Of Meat

Dear All,
Can you refreeze the meat and poultry after defrosted.
For example in the case of whole frozen chiken is defrosted and processed in to pieces, then can i refreze it again.? if yes for how many days. same in the case of hamburger prepared from the defrosted meat also.

When we defroste one meat item and cut in to small pieces and that is vacuumed and refreeze, wat for this.....

please advise
Ismail

Dear Ismu,

Re yr first paragraph (depends somewhat on yr definition of "defrosted"), the majority opinion seems to be a very qualified yes but always strongly depending on how you have already handled it, for example see -

http://www.extension...tion/BJ659.html

http://www.fsis.usda...ezing/index.asp

But not everybody agrees -

http://ohioline.osu....me/freezer.html

Rgds Charles.C

Dear Ismu

In our hotel we are refreezing small portions of chicken and meat which has been thawed below 4oC and portioned and wrapped in small portions. This is usd for ala carte dishes and some chinese cuisine. The refrozen packs will be used in 15 days.

The cold chain should be maintained below 5oC.

BR

J

Personally I wouldn't because it might affect the texture of the meat and it will be difficult to calculate shelf life, however, several companies manufacture ready meals containing cooked frozen then defrosted chicken but also put freezing guidelines on the packs.

There is a domestic example on the UK Eatwell website which might be of interest:

http://www.eatwell.g...lang=en#A410603

They don't recommend refreezing meat.

I don't think it's a food safety issue, it just doesn't sit quite right for me. If I ever did have to do this, I think I'd insist upon the meat having undergone cooking first.