Refreezing meat

[D Hagens]

 
Here's a brain dead question, I took out some frozen pork ribs, threw them in the fridge, thawed them and now I need to refreeze them.
Is this safe or just stupid?
Oh yeah, the reason I need to do this is because I can't cook them all tonight and I will be gone for a few days.

[fishpharmer]

They should be okay.  I have refrozen meat on several occasions, as long as they weren't starting to spoil.

[D Hagens]

Thank you fishpharmer, that's the answer I was looking for. I thought it would be ok as it's only been in the fridge overnight, just thought I would get a second opinion. 

[CHARLIE]

It's safe to eat. The only thing that happens is moisture gets into the meat when it thaws. When you refreeze it, the moisture turns to ice and changes the texture of the meat somewhat.

[Gary_C]

It's not completely safe, but if you defrosted in the refrig instead of at room temperature, the risk is reasonably low. Just make sure you cook to the proper temperature when you do prepare the meat for eating.

[D Hagens]

It's safe to eat. The only thing that happens is moisture gets into the meat when it thaws. When you refreeze it, the moisture turns to ice and changes the texture of the meat somewhat.

Yeah I was thinking about that when I put it back in, it was some pretty big slabs and they were still partially frozon.

Gary C  I'm thinking about boiling them then on to the BBQ, that should kill anything bad.

[Gary_C]

Oh there's no need to boil them, just make sure you get the meat up to the proper internal temperature when you cook them as you wish. If you have trouble getting internal temperatures up to the recommended levels because of thickness of the cut or whatever, you may want to precook some way before you grill them, but unless you are making soup, I would not boil them.

[Raider Bill]

You will just boil the flavor out. I never understood boiling meat before putting on the grill.

[Bro. Noble]

My wife was a Home Econ teacher and is very picky about food safty.  She says if there are still ice crystals in the meat (which is so in your case) it is safe to re-freeze.  She thinks that meat that is completely thawed should be cooked,  given away, or thrown away to be on the safe side.

[Raider Bill]

My wife was a Home Econ teacher and is very picky about food safty.  She says if there are still ice crystals in the meat (which is so in your case) it is safe to re-freeze.  She thinks that meat that is completely thawed should be cooked,  given away, or thrown away to be on the safe side.

To be on the safe side give it to someone you don't like?

[Gary_C]

Bill, you know the old proverb, don't look a gift horse in the mouth.  :

:D :D :D

[D Hagens]

You will just boil the flavor out. I never understood boiling meat before putting on the grill.

   Yeah I agree that it's a good way to boil the flavour out of the meat.
Here's the reason that I do it with pork ribs. I like to get the sinew skin stuff whatever they call it off the back so I score it with a knife then boil it. The skin stuff comes off easily then in to the marinade it goes for a good 12 hrs. After this it hits the BBQ and it falls off of the bone and even a person with false teeth would enjoy it!
I know that one can get the skin off with rock salt and it's a bit of a process and I know that chilling it in ice works to.
What do you guys do?
I'm the type of guy that wants it done right, like when you're done dinner you feel like you had dinner.

[Raider Bill]

I just grab it with a paper towel and pull it off. Yes it can be a bit of a pain but well worth it for great juicey tasty ribs.

[Norm]

I use a knife to get under it from the small rib end. Lift up some and grab with a clean pair of pliers. I have a pair in my kitchen drawer for just this use, it goes in the dishwasher afterward.

I never refreeze meat that's thawed. I got food poisoning once and once is all I ever want.