How to Freeze Thawed Meat

Handling fresh, frozen or thawed meat correctly is important for preventing bacterial growth or spoilage. Refreezing thawed meat is a safe practice, provided you defrost the meat in the refrigerator, according to the USDA. If you defrost the frozen meat by some other method, such as in a microwave or in a bowl of cold water, do not refreeze the meat. Once meat is cooked, it is also safe to refreeze it, and you can follow the same refreezing procedure.

Step 1

Divide the thawed meat into smaller portions if you defrosted a large amount of meat.

Step 2

Place the thawed meat portions either on freezer-safe plastic wrap or freezer paper. If you are using freezer paper, place the meat on the shiny side of the paper and fold the paper around the meat like you would a burrito. Tape the seams with freezer tape.

Step 3

Place wrapped portions into a freezer-safe zippered bag. It is important to use zippered plastic bags made especially for the freezer, because they are less permeable than standard plastic bags.