Has it defrosted? And how can I tell?

wannabe_sybil

Just went to get something from the freezer, and it appears that the freezer door was slightly ajar. I last went into the freezer @ 5pm Monday.

Everything seems to be frozen, but there is a huge build up of ice. I am loath to get rid of everything in there, but I would rather waste the food than give everyone food poisoning.

Would it still be safe to eat the food?

Pink.

Hi sybil,

It's a rotten feeling when someone leaves the freezer door open isn't it.

If the food is still solid and not soft then I would close the door and leave it as it is as it doesn't sound as though it's defrosted. If it's soft then you need to decide what you want to re-freeze. In the past when this has happened I have re-frozen some things eg bread that I reckon won't kill us but the likes of raw meat or fish, I take out and cook/make into something else and re-freeze. If it's already cooked and defrosted then take it out and use it.

As you say everything still seems to be frozen, I would close the door and be thankful that you found it in time and give whoever left the door open an ear-bashing. If the worst comes to the worst and you feel you can't use the food and want to bin it you may be able to claim on your contents insurance as that normally covers accidental loss from freezers.

Pink

wannabe_sybil

Pink-winged wrote: »

Hi sybil,

As you say everything still seems to be frozen, I would close the door and be thankful that you found it in time and give whoever left the door open an ear-bashing.

Pink

Thank you - I think you are right. It was me that left the door open, though it was only just ajar, so that will have helped.

Perhaps I can take comfort in all the times dear heart has left the door open, and I have been noble in not shouting so he will probably only tease me a little

Pink.

wannabe_sybil wrote: »

Thank you - I think you are right. It was me that left the door open, though it was only just ajar, so that will have helped.

Perhaps I can take comfort in all the times dear heart has left the door open, and I have been noble in not shouting so he will probably only tease me a little

Ah! If it was you who left the door open, the answer is simple.....don't tell him!

floss2

Pink-winged wrote: »

......you may be able to claim on your contents insurance as that normally covers accidental loss from freezers.

Pink

Generally only if either the electricity supply or the freezer has failed, not usually for "human error" - but always worth checking the policy!

Pink.

floss2 wrote: »

Generally only if either the electricity supply or the freezer has failed, not usually for "human error" - but always worth checking the policy!

Mine covered for [strike]my son's stupidity[/strike] human error but as you say, it might be better to check the policy.

MrsBartolozzi

You might want to bear in mind the insurance policy excess when deciding whether to claim. When our electric was accidently cut off while we were on holiday a few years ago I came home to a mouldy fridge and freezer and a stinking house (and it was 11.30pm and the electric board thought it a good idea to cut power to the street and dig up the road to find the fault so that was a hit with the neighbours!!)
To replace the contents of the freezer would have come to less than the £50 excess and so was not worth claiming for.

Hth,
MrsB.

wannabe_sybil

MrsBartolozzi wrote: »

You might want to bear in mind the insurance policy excess when deciding whether to claim. When our electric was accidently cut off while we were on holiday a few years ago I came home to a mouldy fridge and freezer and a stinking house (and it was 11.30pm and the electric board thought it a good idea to cut power to the street and dig up the road to find the fault so that was a hit with the neighbours!!)
To replace the contents of the freezer would have come to less than the £50 excess and so was not worth claiming for.

Hth,
MrsB.

Well, the freezer was filling up with lots of home made stews and soups, so not really a lot of money. There were some venison burgers - I may try cooking those tonight instead of corned beef hash so that at least those get eaten.

So downcast by it. My instincts are telling me that the food will be fine, as covered in ice, but there was water running off the ice on two boxes of curried lentil cashew nut and carrot soup. And do I want to have a runny tummy at the same time as little bear? :eek:

Thank you for all the advice.

Patchwork_Quilt

In my old freezer book, it said that if there were still ice crystals in the middle of whatever had been accidentally defrosted, then it was ok to put back in the freezer. I think the danger would be when you actually wanted to use something, kept it out until it really was defrosted, then didn't eat it straight away. I wouldn't put anything new in the freezer until I had used up all the stuff that's in it now, then defrost the freezer properly and start again.

wannabe_sybil

Patchwork Quilt - thank you.

It is a bit of a blow. I am trying to say to myself - wow! A chance to use that defrosting spray I got from Lakeland. It's not working. But I have a heap of defrosting meat that will be turned into casserole tomorrow, cooked sausages for lunch for me and dear heart tomorrow and sadly some home made stuff on the way out. Also lots of rubbish that I was dreading using up is being thrown, so that has to be a slightly silver lining.

The freezer now will be double checked on the hour for the next few days