Can I eat this or do I bin it?

[bettyfretty]

Got myself and Dh a some fancy Indian microwave meal type things for dinner last night but he ended up being late in from work and we both settled on a bowl of cereal instead 🙄😂

So the meals were frozen and I didn't have room in the freezer for them so I popped them in the fridge thinking we would be eating them within the next hour or so. Totally forgot they were in the fridge and left them in there over night.

Realised this morning. They were still slightly frozen. DH was adamant then need to go in the bin. I made room in the freezer and have left them in there until I've had chance to come and let Mumsnet decide what to do.....they both contained chicken.

Bin or keep them in the freezer? I'm crap at this stuff.

Yes I’d eat them, why wouldn’t you? They don’t have to be kept frozen I’m sure, as long as you eat within a couple of days and reheat until piping hot they will be fine

Dh is a really anxious about this stuff. It says do not re freeze on the boxes so he won't eat it now. I can obvs eat them both though...

It’s perfectly fine to eat.

I wouldn't have put them back in freezer. Just left in fridge and cooked that day or next.

Next time you could have left them in the fridge and they would have been perfectly fine too.

This. Don't refreeze

I wouldn't now you've refreezed them. They would have been fine from the fridge. Too risky now so id chuck them

I’d still happily eat it though. It’s really not that big a deal. But for future reference it’s generally best not to re-freeze - next time leave it in the fridge and just cook from thawed out instead.

You really shouldn't refreeze. I'm sure they'll be ok, as long as cooked properly, but they could have been cooked from chilled, just adjust the timing.
As long as it's piping hot right through, it'll be fine.

I wouldn’t eat them now they’ve been in the freezer again, I would have if they had stayed in the fridge.

I’d eat it. Especially if you’re eating them tonight and they’ve been kept partially frozen they’ll be at or below fridge temp, no reason why not.

I would eat them without a second thought. Your DH is being ridiculous.

It will be absolutely safe to eat.

Fine, but you should have left them in the fridge.

Eat it fgs!

Once defrosted eat within 24 hours
You dont need to refreeze them or throw them away. Cook them and eat them

If they were kept in the fridge the not refreezing advice or more due to quality not safety.

Ahh I see - I put them in the freezer as they were still slightly frozen.

If it were me, I would eat them but unfortunately I'm married to a complete freak when it comes to this stuff so it helps to get a second opinion!

No not now you've refrozen them. I'd you'd have just left them in the fridge they'd have been fine though

You can have both then

Refreezing is really just for quality purposes rather than food safety, with the exception of ice cream. So they are perfectly safe to eat if they have been stored below 5 degrees the whole time and are going to be heated thoroughly.

He's not. If they had been left in the fridge, they'd be fine. Re-freezing is not fine.

I wouldn't eat them now you've decided to re-freeze them, but they'd have been fine to cook straight from the fridge.

Why do you think that?

Refreezing foods that have been defrosted in the fridge is not unsafe and is no worse than leaving them in the fridge.

www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/freezing-and-food-safety