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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To chuck the food away?

50 replies

FloralBunting · 24/08/2018 10:54

Freezer stopped working in the last 48 hours. I think it was possibly a power issue, but it's back working again now. Everything was pretty soft and dripping, and is now hard and cold again.

There are raw chicken breasts, various bits of Quorn, lots of veg and quite a bit of potato products and some bread.

I think, as it all clearly defrosted and refroze, there's not a lot to be done - it needs to go for safety reasons. DP is insisting it will be fine. Is there anything that could be alright? I'm thinking not.

AIBU?

OP posts:
ArmySal · 24/08/2018 10:56

I'd throw everything, personally.

rainbowsandsmiles · 24/08/2018 10:57

If it's all defrosted and then started to freeze again, I'd chuck it all as well to be on the safe side.

Leeds2 · 24/08/2018 10:57

I wouldn't eat it myself.
If DP is insisting it is fine, then he can eat it himself.

ShinyMe · 24/08/2018 11:02

I'd keep it. It's not as though you took it out of the freezer and kept it in a warm kitchen and then put it back in the freezer. When the power went off it will have defrosted slowly and stayed pretty cold for a long time before refreezing again. I'd just make sure it was thoroughly cooked when I do cook it.

Merryoldgoat · 24/08/2018 11:03

All in the bin. I feel your pain. This happened to me last year. We wasted an absolute fortune in food and batch cooking.

StylishMummy · 24/08/2018 11:04

Bin the lot

It's not worth the risk!

1happyhippie · 24/08/2018 11:09

I would keep the potatoe products and possibly the bread, but the meat I would throw.
It's a pain but better to be safe.

theymademejoin · 24/08/2018 11:11

I'd bin the chicken but keep everything else. Veg, bread, potatoes are not a problem. Quorn should be fine too.

SittingAround1 · 24/08/2018 11:13

definitely chuck the chicken

BlueBug45 · 24/08/2018 11:14

Chuck any meat, chicken and fish.

The rest will be safe to eat.

AwkwardPaws27 · 24/08/2018 11:14

If it has re-frozen I'd chuck it - if it happens in future, it's better to cook the defrosted food as it will then last a couple of days in the fridge and you can eat it (happened to us last year, had some interesting meal combinations but v minimal food waste).

Jaxhog · 24/08/2018 11:15

Bin the meat, frozen meals and the veg. Chips and bread should be ok.

AdoraBell · 24/08/2018 11:16

I would chuck it, annoying as it is. If DP doesn’t agree he can eat it.

theymademejoin · 24/08/2018 11:17

Just wondering - what do people think will happen if you refreeze bread or veg? Meat has dodgy bacteria that multiply at room temperature but veg etc doesn't. I wouldn't advise repeatedly freezing/defrosting/freezing etc but a once off is fine.

I think the don't refreeze rule is a bit like use by dates. I still use my eyes and nose to determine whether something can be eaten rather than taking the date as a hard and fast rule.

Nesssie · 24/08/2018 11:18

Chuck the meat and Quorn, everything else should be fine.

pigsDOfly · 24/08/2018 11:19

I'd throw away any fish or meat.

If you're throwing away a lot have you checked your house and contents insurance you might find you're covered for this.

SpoonBlender · 24/08/2018 11:20

Toss pretty much everything. All veg will be ruined (and in a single block now!) and anything meat/fish is definitely out. Desserts will be a bit manky on a refreeze. I might keep bread, but only for toast.

Check your home insurance, you may be covered for this.

Deshasafraisy · 24/08/2018 11:22

All the processed food in the bin- chicken/meat cook it into a curry or something and refreeze cooked. Frozen veg, make soup, refreeze.
Never refreeze defrosted food. Very dangerous.

Deshasafraisy · 24/08/2018 11:23

Oh just reread that’s it’s already refrozen. Bin the lot

LeroyJenkins · 24/08/2018 11:25

I would bin it

Mitzimaybe · 24/08/2018 11:31

I happily keep & use things beyond recommended dates etc. but if my freezer contents had defrosted I would have to use them immediately or throw them out. Are you sure they defrosted? If you actually saw them "soft and dripping" then yes, I'm afraid I would throw them all.

actualpuffins · 24/08/2018 11:33

I'd use what I could and keep the veg.

BarbaraofSevillle · 24/08/2018 11:33

If it didn't go above fridge temperature, to be honest I'd keep the lot. In 48 hours, it would have spent most of that time frozen and some in a semi defrosted so still chilled state.

Any doubt and I'd cook the chicken etc this weekend, but Iv'e defrosted and refrozen meat many times because I've changed my mind about cooking it, and it's always been fine.

ReanimatedSGB · 24/08/2018 11:35

Meh. I'd keep it all (unless I or someone else likely to eat it was particularly delicate.) What do you think you've got an immune system for? Also, a lot of food safety advice eg best-before dates is about making you spend more money rather than anything else.

Lucisky · 24/08/2018 11:38

This happened to me - came back from a 2 week holiday to a really stinky broken down freezer. However, I claimed on the insurance, so all was not lost. Check your policy.