Can meat be refrozen once it is thawed out?
In short I would NOT TAKE THE risk, due the bacteria that multiplies when defrosted, pork, chicken and fish especially. Meat should always be defrosted in the fridge, not the counter top. Please check out the links below! Is It Safe to Refreeze Raw Meat and Poultry that Has Thawed? The U. S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) advises, “Meat and poultry defrosted in the refrigerator may be refrozen before or after cooking. If thawed by other methods, cook before refreezing.” (Basics for Handling Food Safely, April 2003 at www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/pubs/facts_basics.p… ) (DO NOT thaw meat at room temperature, such as on the kitchen counter.) Meat/poultry that is refrozen might suffer some quality loss as moisture may be lost during thawing. Safety will depend on whether the raw product was handled properly before it was frozen, refrozen shortly after it was thawed, cooked to a safe temperature when it is eaten and handled safely if there are any leftovers.
