Expert: Carol Schlitt - 6/26/2006

Question
Apparently the last thing I did before I left for work was go in my freezer and like a dumb dumb I left the door open.  I returned home several hours later and needless to say most everything was defrosted.  OK to refreeze, i had some store bought chiken and steak never opened, hamburger patties, box of hot dogs, etc..  I keep getting mixed reviews on whether the stuff is ok.  It is all refrozen now and I don't know whether to risk cooking or not.  

Answer
Hi Michelle,

The key thing to know is "were there ice crystals in the meat products?  Do you remember?  Or were the meats completely defrosted?

If there were ice crystals, then the meat can be safely refrozen.  If they were completely defrosted then my advice would be to not chance it and throw the meat out.

There is no "test" to determine if a food is safe -- we only know that the potential for the growth of foodborne illness bacteria is there if potentially hazardous foods (meats, milk, eggs, etc) are in the food danger zone (above 40 degrees -- below 140 degrees)for over 2 hours.  The general rule of thumb is to discard food out in the danger zone after 2 hours.

So....the question is -- were their ice crystals?  

Hope this helped.

Carol C. Schlitt
Extension Educator, Nutrition and Wellness
University of Illinois Extension