Ask The Chef

The following question came into The Food Channel:

Question:

Just a quick question. can chicken, brats, and pork chops, once cooked, be refrozen again?

–Patricia

Answer:

We rely on USDA standards, which say you can definitely freeze meat that has been cooked. You may want to review further information from the site listed below.

Refreezing
“Once food is thawed in the refrigerator, it is safe to refreeze it without cooking, although there may be a loss of quality due to the moisture lost through thawing. After cooking raw foods which were previously frozen, it is safe to freeze the cooked foods.

If previously cooked foods are thawed in the refrigerator, you may refreeze the unused portion. Freeze leftovers within 3-4 days. Do not refreeze any foods left outside the refrigerator longer than 2 hours; 1 hour in temperatures above 90 °F. If you purchase previously frozen meat, poultry or fish at a retail store, you can refreeze if it has been handled properly.”

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