A friend who is a baker recently asked me if he could re-freeze an apple pie after it had been thawed.
This is not the first time I was asked this question so I decided to answer it in this post.
So, can you refreeze thawed apple pie? According to the USDA, any food that is previously thawed in the refrigerator is safe to refreeze even without cooking.
It is important to remember though that the refreezing process may affect the quality of your apple pie due to moisture loss during thawing.
Refrozen apple pie may stay safe and good within three to four days as long as you store it properly in the freezer.
How to refreeze thawed apple pie correctly?
There are several important things you need to remember if you refreeze your apple pie.
First thing first, always make sure that the thawing process is performed in a refrigerator.
It gives you more control over the refreezing process as well as helps keep refrozen foods colder longer than the ones kept at room temperature.
Second, refreeze thawed apple pie in three or four small portions.
It will prevent the refreezing process from drastically changing the texture and taste of your refrozen apple pie.
Third, refreeze your apple pie soon after it is prepared.
It will help you keep refrozen foods colder longer.
Lastly, refreeze the apple pie at least 0 degrees Fahrenheit or colder because it will help keep refrozen foods safe longer.
Refreezing thawed frozen apple pie… Is it safe?
Food refreezing can actually make sense depending on the circumstances you refreeze your refrozen food.
As previously mentioned, refreezing food doesn’t affect its safety if it was refrozen in a freezer without having been thawed for more than two hours at room temperature.
What to remember when refreezing apple pie?
When refreezing thawed apple pie you should always:
- Place thawed apple pie in a freezer.
- Refreeze thawed apple pie in small portions.
- Refreeze thawed apple pie at least 0 degrees Fahrenheit or colder.
- Store thawed apple pie in the freezer in airtight containers, leaving no space around the refrozen food.
- Replace refrozen foods in their original packaging if possible or use wrapping that doesn’t touch the refrozen food.
- Refreeze the thawed apple pie within three to four days.
If you follow these steps, then there is a high chance that you will successfully refreeze your apple pie.
Can you refreeze frozen cooked apples?
You can refreeze refrozen cooked apples as long as they are refrozen within a few days of defrosting and refreezing doesn’t take food outside USDA recommended temperature ranges.
It’s best to refreeze your cooked apples in small portions rather than refreezing the whole refrozen product to keep the texture and taste intact.
You can refreeze refrozen cooked apples at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or colder.
Refreeze them quickly after defrosting as it will help you refreeze your cooked apples without affecting its safety.
Can you refreeze defrosted meat pies?
According to the USDA, you can refreeze defrosted meat pies if they were refrozen within two hours of thawing and refreezing was done properly.
Keep in mind that refreezing defrosted meat pies may affect their texture.
This means that you will likely experience a change in taste and appearance.
If you refreeze your defrosted meat pie, then it is best to refreeze in small portions rather than refreezing the whole refrozen food.
It will prevent any drastic change in the texture and taste of your refrozen pie.
Also, the temperature should be at least 0 degrees Fahrenheit or colder.
Refreeze quickly after thawing as it will help your refrozen pie safe for later consumption.
Can refreezing affect the safety of food?
If done properly, refreezing does not affect the safety of the food. It will only be detrimental if the refreezing does not follow the USDA recommended temperature range.
You should refreeze thawed foods immediately.
To refreeze thawed foods, you should refreeze them as soon as possible after the first freezing.
You can refreeze them without thawing them completely.
To refreeze the foods, you will have to refreeze them within a few days of the first freezing.
A refrozen food is safe as long as it was frozen properly the first time and if refreezing it doesn’t take the food outside of USDA recommended temperature ranges.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, refreezing thawed apple pie is possible as long as your apple pie was refrozen within a few days of the first refreezing.
Refreezing thawed apple pie is safe. Just make sure that you follow the USDA recommended refreezing recommendations.
If you do it right, refreezing thawed apple pie will be safe for consumption later.
However, keep in mind that refreezing thawed apple pie might affect its texture and taste.
If you refreeze your refrozen foods outside USDA recommended temperature ranges for too long, then it is possible that they may become unsafe for consumption later.
I hope the tips shared in this post help you successfully refreeze your thawed apple pie.
If you want to learn more about freezing foods, visit my guide here.
