Reheating ham is often a good idea, but what about if you want to freeze it?
Can you refreeze ham? Is it safe?
It is safe to refreeze ham. However, the quality of the product may suffer. There are things you need to consider when you refreeze ham.
However, this does not mean that you cannot do it at all. As long as you do the right thing, you are good to go.
If you want to refreeze ham, be sure to follow these steps for successful refreezing.
- First place the meat in a plastic bag or wrap tightly in freezer paper or aluminum foil. This prevents any excess moisture from forming on the surface of the food which could cause spoilage due to bacterial growth.
- Second, label and date the meat.
- Third, refreeze in a freezer that is set to 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
A freezer’s temperature affects how long items can be safely stored without risk of spoilage or damage to taste and texture.
Refreeze the ham immediately after purchasing to get the best quality possible.
Refrozen food will maintain its original quality for about 3 months if it is stored at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
However, in some cases, refreezing can negatively affect the quality of ham.
I recommend that you check the ham regularly to make sure that it stays safe in the freezer.
How to refreeze ham correctly?
Refreezing ham is not as easy as defrosting and using up. This is because refreezing ham can be unsafe for consumption, because the meat may have already been contaminated with bacteria from the first time it was thawed.
If you don’t want to just throw out your ham, you should follow some steps to process the best possible way to refreeze ham.
If correctly it can be safe, but should only be done if you are confident in your abilities to do it properly.
4 steps to refreeze ham:
Here are a few steps you might want to consider when refreezing ham.
- Safely thaw the ham by letting it defrost in the fridge overnight. If you need to thaw it faster, you can place the ham in cold water.
- Once the ham has thawed, prepare it for cooking by washing and then patting dry with clean paper towels or a clean dish cloth. Make sure that there is no moisture on the outside of the meat which could lead to bacteria growth.
- Refreeze the ham by putting it back in the freezer, not all the way through just to the point where it starts to freeze.
- Reheat the ham by cooking it thoroughly before serving or eating. Reheating ham can be done with oven heating, stove top heating or microwaving depending on your personal preference. If you do not want to use the oven or stove, put the ham in the microwave for about 2 minutes per pound.
Reheating ham will kill any bacteria that has grown since it has been thawed and refrozen.
Can you refreeze ham twice?
Refreezing ham twice should not be done because it could cause safety and quality problems.
Refreezing ham makes the meat dry and tough. When you refreeze ham, ice crystals form within the cells of the meat, causing moisture loss and toughening the texture.
Refreezing the ham will also diminish its flavor and nutritional value.
Ham can be refrozen up to one time without it having a major impact on the quality of the meat, but after that it’s best not to refreeze.
Refreezing can also decrease the quality and taste of ham because any exposure to air causes flavor loss.
The best way to tell if ham has gone bad is by checking its odor. If the ham has a sour smell it has gone bad.
Can you refreeze cooked ham?
You should not refreeze cooked ham if it has not been stored properly and is still cold.
Refreezing cooked ham that has already thawed may cause health risks.
The best way to refreeze cooked ham safely is to store it correctly before you freeze it in the first place, so be sure to follow these steps:
• Buy a plastic container or bag with a sealable lid, and place the ham in there. Make sure it’s airtight.
• Double wrap the container if you do not have a secure lid. For example, use one plastic box inside of another plastic box with the lid closed tightly to hold your ham securely through any travels it might see before it gets eaten.
• Place the ham in a freezer and make sure it is frozen solid.
• The container that your ham is in should have the freezing date on it so that you remember when you should eat it by.
If you do not buy a container, you should wrap your ham tightly in plastic and aluminum foil.
Make sure it’s in a place where it will be frozen solid within one day.
If your cooked ham still hasn’t been stored correctly after all this information, I recommend throwing it out.
However, if your ham has been in the freezer for a while and you’ve lost track of when it was put in there, I also recommend to discard it.
Always remember that the best way to refreeze cooked ham safely is to store it correctly before you freeze it in the first place.
How long can you refreeze ham?
Refreeze ham up to 5 days after the initial thawing. To limit food waste, cook and refreeze meat within a few days of thawing.
Final Thoughts
After reading this article, you should now know how to freeze ham so it can be refrozen later.
Refreeze ham up to 5 days after initial thawing in the fridge.
Cook and refreeze within a few days of thawing.
Always remember that refreezing ham is safe, but always refreeze ham at the proper times.
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