Help! My deep freeze chest has been unplugged since Saturday! Is all lost? ?

Question

In January we bought a third of a cow's worth of meat. So we had a lot of meat in there.

I've tossed out the totally thawed out meat. Is it safe to put back in the freezer the meat that was still hard/frozen? And can I cook some of the ground beef that was a little bit thawed to refreeze after cooking?

And... I'd recently frozen ten pounds of fresh blueberries. They're soft, but not smelly or covered in meat juice. Are they lost or worth refreezing?

Anyone have a link to a website with more information?

Answer 1

The ground beef that was a little thawed out should be fine, as long as it stayed cold.

And the rock hard frozen beef will be fine too.

And blueberries should be alright. They might not be so great refrozen, but if you macerate them in some sugar, they should be great.

Answer 2

I wouldn't risk it. You could poison yourself. I'd dump the meat and disinfect the freezer real well and start over. You may want to find a safer place for it where no one will unplug it.

Monica

Answer 3

YIkes.  So sorry to  hear that.  We have a chest freeze full and I have instructed my youngest that it is his chore to once a day check to make sure all is ok with it.

I would say 4 days is simply to long to take a chance with any of that meat.

Answer 4

In my opinion, I would definitely say ditch it all.  And, I'm not happy about that either, considering you have a 1/3 of a cow in there, I know how expensive that is.  With todays food market and all the concerns, your freezer being uplugged for 5 days is too dangerous for you and your families health to even question it, unless your temperature read below 32 the whole time, and no one opened the door. The blueberries are the least of my worries, they sound fine but I would really check out the FDA's website, for scientific and more specific information if you need that reassurance.  My Mom just lost her refrigerator and we had to ditch 85% of it in just two days, with no openings. It just wasn't worth the risk, ya know?  Sorry you have to go through this.

Answer 5

You are suppose to be able to refreeze meat that has been thawed out in the frig, ecspecially if it is still partially frozen, I do.  Not sure about the blueberries.  I'd go ahead & make some jam, pies, muffins, etc. & freeze them that way, or at least do half that way & maybe try refreezing the rest.  I'd hate to refreeze them & they all turn out mushy???

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Answer 6

I too would have to say that the hard frozen meat is still okay,but I wouldn't take a chance with the partially thawed meat especially since it is ground meat (ground meat tends to have a higher level of bacteria that are normally "okay bacteria" that is produced by the act of grinding the meat) However if left out this bacteria multiplies at an alarmingly fast rate.Also, any type of food should only be out for a total of 5 hours in the "Danger Zone" This is the temp between 45 degrees and 160 degrees I would also throw away the blueberries.( It would be different if they were thawed under refrigeration for 4 days,but again these were also in the danger zone too long)Sorry to hear about your unfortunate ordeal,I know these things aren't cheap!! But like I tell everyone neither is treating e-coli,salmonella and all the other foodborne illnesses.

Answer 7

Start cooking my friend! You have to thaw it to use it anyway. Just make everything you can think of. *Of course its obvious that you can't use the meat that is totally thawed and not cold anymore. But the "ground beef that was a little bit thawed" is what I was talking about. I would make muffins out of the berries and then freeze the muffins again.

Answer 8

I'm sorry to hear that , but I say throw away the even a lil bit thawed meat. But you can keep the meat that was still frozen and hard.

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Answer 9

My freezer died on me last year, it was a chest one too, i threw away/ate/cooked what was thawed/thawing, a lot of it wasn't even starting to thaw after 5 days,so i transferred it to my new freezer, and I'm still here to tell the tale, as long as its still frozen, its fine! yes, you can cook, then refreeze the beef,i wouldn't refreeze the blueberries!!

Answer 10

there money had not been invested and there going to say chuck it!

However I say from my own experience our power went out during an ice storm and the basement is 74 degrees ( out for 3 days) We did not open the freezer door  a few things has to be tossed but what was frozen  i save

I live Thur it and you will to If you have doubt and it is partially thawed

cook it. if it is still hard put it back and cook it another time.