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 If your freezer door was left partially open allowing the food in the door to thaw out, and some of the food in the freezer to partially thaw, can this food be refrozen?
Answer Hi Smitty,
If your foods still had ice crystals -- they are safe to refreeze.
Some foods like ice cream and frozen juice concentrate do not refreeze well and you may want to pitch. Frozen vegetables and fruits that partially defrost and then refrozen tend to develelop freezer burn and off flavors faster so I suggest you use those foods quickly. Meats, fish and other foods, being bulkier and more dense tend to take the longest to defrost so you many not see any difference in quality in these products.
