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 bet- ter to throw questionable food out.

 

 

 

Food or Food Type

Still contains ice crystals and

Thawed.

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

DAIRY

some texture and flavor loss.

 

 

 

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

Juices—vegetables

Refreeze

or sliminess develops

Discard after held above

Home, commercially packaged or

Refreeze, will change in

40° F (4° C) for 6 hours

Discard after held above

blanched

texture and flavor.

40° F (4° C) for 6 hours or if mold,

BREADS and PASTRIES

 

yeasty smell or sliminess develops

 

 

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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Maytag Upright Freezers owner manual Freezing guidelines, Dairy, Other