Would You Re-Freeze?

[Prudie]

Our freezer is faulty and we have been advised to turn it off for 24 hours and then back on. Obviously stuff is going to thaw but would you re-freeze seemingly innocuous things such as:
frozen peas, milk, bread rolls, crumpets, yorkies??
What do you think?

[Vagus]

Yes. Definitely. Don’t open the door, and the food stuffs you mention I’d re freeze anyway. Milk takes ages to defrost too, so I doubt it’d defrost in a closed door switched off freezer in 24 hours.

[AuntPollyGrey]

How full is your freezer? If its pretty full the items probably won't defrost much in 24 hours. As previously said just keep the door shut.

[woofgang]

I wouldn't re freeze anything that has thawed completely or almost completely.

[Bazile]

What happens if you open the door , even once ?

[woofgang]

if its a chest freezer not much but with an upright freezer, the cold air pours out as though it was water.

[Mexican18]

I'm confused about why you would freeze Yorkshire terriers!

[Mamyalynne]

Don't be a pudding Mex ;-)

[237SJ]

I`d definitely re-freeze flour based products such as bread etc. Not sure about yorkies due to the egg in them. I would re-freeze veg and see how they panned out when I wanted to use them.

[retrocop]

Yes I would. I have also re- freezed pre- heated food portions. My wife wouldn't do it but I've still got a pulse. :-)

[gingejbee]

Having been off for 24 hours, what guarantee is there that it will work normally thereafter?

[Prudie]

None gingebee, just something we were told to try first. Getting a new one installed at the moment will not be easy (for info its a 50/50 upright fridge freezer, the fridge bit is fine).

[AuntPollyGrey]

Seriously people can be a bit paranoid about this. Ok if you thaw chicken breast or mince overnight at room temperature you would be daft to refreeze it. However, I have half defrosted pork chops to get a couple off a 'block' and refrozen the rest and, like retro, still have a pulse.
I've also half defrosted pies and pizza to cut in half and refreeze.
The reason the advice is not to refreeze is that while defrosting at room temperature bacteria can form which, if refrozen ,will remain on the food and if its then not cooked properly you may get sick. Very low risk.

[diddlydo]

I'd re-freeze it all. Unless we have tropical temperatures (unlikely) it won't defrost properly in 24 hours. The only thing that could suffer is the texture but none of it will make you ill.
Incidentally, the turning it off for 24 hours to see if it still works seems a rather bizarre idea - who suggested it?

[AuntPollyGrey]

I was thinking the same thing to be honest -what will turning it off for 24 hours achieve? If you are getting a new one shortly why not just wait? What exactly is the 'fault'?

[tiggerblue10]

I wouldn't have an issue re-freezing anything as long as it didn't contain meat products.

[Prudie]

The actual domestic appliance seller told me to try it first, reputable local dealer - he said we "may have had a piece of ice stuck behind the evaporator"

[Prudie]

The fault we can't wait, it's suddenly not freezing things cold enough, ice cream is soft but not melted when it's usually rock hard for example.

[johnny.5]

this used to happen often with my frost free upright freezer.
i would sometimes take all the drawers out wrap them in blankets then put them in the shed overnight to keep frozen
then open the freezer door with it turned off the next morning I would dry it out then turn it back on empty wait for it to get cold then replace the drawers full of still frozen food. it would then work really great for about another 6 months then repeat