By Diane Wright Hirsch, UConn Extension emerita food safety educator
Frozen Foods
| Food | Still contains ice crystals and feels as cold as if refrigerated | Thawed. Held above 40°F for over 2 hours |
| MEAT, POULTRY, SEAFOOD, EGGS | ||
| Beef, veal, lamb, pork, and ground meats. Poultry and ground poultry | Refreeze | Discard |
|
Fish, shellfish, breaded seafood products |
Refreeze. However, there will be some | Discard |
| Eggs (out of shell) and egg products | Refreeze | Discard |
| DAIRY | ||
| Milk | Refreeze. May lose some texture. | Discard |
| Ice cream, frozen yogurt | Discard | Discard |
| Cheese (soft and semi-soft); cheesecake | Refreeze. May lose some texture. | Discard |
| Hard cheeses | Refreeze | Refreeze |
| FRUITS | ||
| Juices | Refreeze | Refreeze. Discard if mold, yeasty smell, or sliminess develops. |
| Home or commercially packaged fruit | Refreeze. Will change texture and | Refreeze. Discard if mold, yeasty smell, or sliminess develops. |
| VEGETABLES | ||
| Juices | Refreeze | Discard |
| Home or commercially packaged or blanched vegetables | Refreeze. May suffer texture and | Discard |
| BREADS, PASTRIES | ||
| Breads, bagels, rolls, muffins, cakes | Refreeze | Refreeze. |
| Cakes, pies, pastries with custard or | Refreeze | Discard |
| Pie crusts, commercial and homemade bread dough | Refreeze. Some quality loss may occur. | Refreeze. Quality loss is considerable. |
| OTHER | ||
| Casseroles, frozen meals/entrees, specialty items (pizza, sausage and biscuit, meat pie) | Refreeze | Discard |
| Flour, cornmeal, nuts, seeds | Refreeze | Refreeze |
| Breakfast items-waffles, pancakes | Refreeze | Discard |
Refrigerated Foods, Held above 40°F for over two hours
| MEAT, POULTRY, SEAFOOD, EGGS | |
|
Raw or leftover cooked meat, poultry, fish, or seafood; meat substitutes; canned hams labeled “Keep Refrigerated;” lunch meats, hot dogs, bacon, sausage; caned meats and fish, opened |
Discard |
| Meat, tuna, shrimp, chicken, or egg salad | Discard |
| Gravy, stuffing, broth | Discard |
| Pizza – with any topping | Discard |
| Casseroles, soups, stews | Discard |
| Fresh eggs, hard-cooked in shell, egg dishes, egg products; custards and puddings | Discard |
| DAIRY/CHEESE | |
| Soft Cheeses: blue, Brie/Camembert, cottage, cream, Monterey Jack, ricotta, mozzarella, queso blanco, queso fresco | Discard |
| Hard Cheeses: Cheddar, Colby, Swiss, Parmesan, Provolone, Romano | Safe |
| Processed Cheeses | Safe |
| Milk, cream, sour cream, buttermilk, evaporated milk, yogurt, eggnog, soy milk, butte | Discard |
| Margarine | Safe |
| Baby formula, opened; breastmilk | Discard |
| FRUITS | |
| Fresh fruits, cut | Discard |
| Canned fruit, canned or bottled fruit juices, opened | Safe |
| Fresh whole fruits, coconut, raisins, dried fruits, candied fruits, dates | Safe |
| SAUCES, SPREADS, JAMS | |
| Opened mayonnaise, tartar sauce, horseradish | Discard if above 50°F for over 8 hours |
| Peanut butter, almond butter | Safe |
| Jelly, pickles/relish, mustard, catsup, olives; Worcestershire, soy, Hoisin, barbecue, taco sauces | Safe |
| Fish sauces (oyster sauce) | Discard |
| Opened vinegar-based dressings | Safe |
| Opened creamy-based dressings | Discard |
| Commercial garlic in oil | Discard |
| BREAD, CAKES, COOKIES, PASTA, GRAINS, CAKES, PIES, PASTRY | |
| Bread, rolls, cakes, muffins, quick breads, tortillas, bagels | Safe |
| Refrigerator biscuits, rolls, cookie dough; waffles, pancakes | Discard |
| Cooked pasta, rice, potatoes, pasta salads; opened cans of pasta meals; Fresh pasta | Discard |
| Custard, cream or cheese filled pies/pastries; quiche, meringue pies; cheesecake | Discard |
| Fruit filled pies or pastries | Safe |
| VEGETABLES | |
| Greens, pre-cut, pre-washed, packaged; sprouts | Discard |
| Vegetables, raw, uncut | Safe |
| Vegetables, raw, cut | Discard |
| Vegetables, cooked; tofu; baked potatoes; potato salad; cooked dried beans, hummus | Discard |
| Vegetable juice, opened | Discard |
Sources:
https://www.fda.gov/food/recallsoutbreaksemergencies/emergencies/ucm2006925.htm