AboutCarol Schlitt Expertise I can answer questions on home food safety, sanitation, home food preservation and commercial food safety (HACCP).
Experience I am an Extension educator, nutrition, wellness and food safety. I am a certified HACCP manager and a food safety instructor for the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Organizations International Association for Food Protection, American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (Certified CFCS), National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Society for Nutrition Education.
Education/Credentials BS - University of Illinois
MS - Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Question I recently bought a package of pork chops with appx. 40 pork chops in it. I wasnt thinking and stuck them all in the freezer. Can I thaw them out for a few hours just until i can pull them apart and than refreeze what I dont cook? Any suggestions would be helpful, I would hate to waste that many pork chops if i cant refreeze them!
Thank You
Answer Hi Danielle,
Yes -- you can defrost them in the refrigerator until they can be pulled apart. You can then repackage them in smaller packages and then refreeze.
As a general rule, meats that are defrosted in the refrigerator and still have ice crystals, can be successfully refrozen. This also holds true for meat in a freezer that loses power.
Hope this helps. If I can be of further assistance, please let me know.
Carol C. Schlitt
Extension Educator, Nutrition and Wellness
University of Illinois Extension
