Freezing guidelines, cont.

The chart below is provided by the USDA and should be used as a guideline only. When in doubt about food safety, it is always better to throw questionable food out.

 

Still contains ice crystals and

Thawed.

Food or Food Type

feels as cold as if refrigerated

Held above 40° F for over 2 hours

MEAT, POULTRY and SEAFOOD

 

 

Beef, veal, lamb, pork and ground meats

Refreeze

Discard

 

 

 

Poultry and ground poultry

Refreeze

Discard

 

 

 

Variety meats

Refreeze

Discard

(liver, kidney, heart, chitterlings)

 

 

 

 

 

Fish, shellfish, breaded seafood products

Refreeze, however, there will be

Discard

 

some texture and flavor loss.

 

DAIRY

 

 

 

 

 

Milk

Refreeze, may lose some texture.

Discard

 

 

 

Eggs (out of shell) and egg products

Refreeze

Discard

 

 

 

Ice cream, frozen yogurt

Discard

Discard

Cheese (soft and semi-soft)

Refreeze, may lose some texture.

Discard

Hard cheeses

Refreeze

Refreeze

 

 

 

Shredded cheeses

Refreeze

Discard

 

 

 

Casseroles containing milk, cream,

Refreeze

Discard

eggs, soft cheeses

 

 

 

 

 

Cheesecake

Refreeze

Discard

 

 

 

FRUITS and VEGETABLES

 

 

 

 

 

Juices—fruit

Refreeze

Refreeze, discard if mold, yeasty smell

 

 

or sliminess develops

 

 

 

Juices—vegetables

Refreeze

Discard after held above

 

 

40° F (4° C) for 6 hours

 

 

 

Home, commercially packaged or

Refreeze, will change in

Discard after held above

blanched

texture and flavor.

40° F (4° C) for 6 hours or if mold,

 

 

yeasty smell or sliminess develops

BREADS and PASTRIES

 

 

Breads, rolls, muffins,

Refreeze

Refreeze

cakes (without custard fillings)

 

 

Cakes, pies, pastries with custard or

Refreeze

Discard

cheese filling

 

 

Pie crusts, commercial and homemade

Refreeze, some quality loss

Refreeze, quality loss is considerable.

bread dough

may occur.

 

 

 

 

OTHER

 

 

Casseroles—pasta or rice based

Refreeze

Discard

Flour, cornmeal, nuts

Refreeze

Refreeze

 

 

 

Breakfast items–

Refreeze

Refreeze

waffles, pancakes, bagels

 

 

Frozen meal, entrée, specialty items

Refreeze

Discard

(pizza, sausage and biscuit,

 

 

meat pie, and convenience foods)

 

 

 

 

 

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Amana Deepfreeze Chest Freezer owner manual Freezing guidelines, Dairy, Other