5 foods you should never refreeze

Freezing food is all about convenience. It’s a great way to pre-plan meals and to have them ready on the go. Some say freezers are like a mini pantry as they help us to avoid those last minute trips to the grocery store and there’s always food on hand.

It’s important to understand that when freezing food such as meat, it ruptures the cell walls reducing the overall quality, freshness and taste. There are a few golden rules to follow when it comes to refreezing food and knowing what we can and can’t put back in the freezer once it’s already been thawed out.

Here are our top tips on the five foods that we should avoid refreezing.

5 Foods to Avoid Refreezing

1. Raw Proteins

This includes meats, poultry and seafood. It’s advised not to refreeze protein that has been thawed out on the kitchen counter as it is common for it to obtain a smell and discolouring which then indicates it’s not safe to eat. 

2. Ice Cream

We’ve all left the ice cream on the counter to the point where it turns into a liquid consistency. If so, don’t bother refreezing it as it will lose its flavour and obtain an icy texture.

3. Juice Concentrates

Fruit based products have the fermentation process occur faster than we think. If you’ve made a blended smoothie, best to drink it on the spot - especially if there is any frozen milk involved, which will be lumpy when thawed.

4. Salad Greens

If you’re after crisp lettuce then it’s best not to put it in the freezer. The temperature wilts the greens having them become soft, limp and flavourless after they’ve been frozen.  

5. Homemade Leftovers

Everyone loves leftovers from chicken casserole to spaghetti bolognaise. These are some of our favourites to pop in the freezer and have as a go to meal. Only take leftovers out of the freeze once as the protein will start to go bad if you thaw it for a second time.