Help! I unplugged the freezer!

Fritha_2

I need advice becuase I'm in [STRIKE]a bit[/STRIKE] a lot of a tizzy!

I accidentally unplugged the freezer 24 or possibly 48 hours ago and only just noticed. It hasn't been opened since.

Most of the stuff is paritally or completely defrosted what can I keep, what do I have to throw away and what stuff can I do soemthing with in order to refreeze it!

I have:

veg (mushrooms, onions, butternut squash) (can I leave these in?)
DH's oven chips (leave in?)
meat (am I right in thinking I can cook thi and then refreeze, and then heat up to eat?)
quorn (pieces and fillets)
vegetarian burgers (not the vegetable ones)
bulk cooked 'ready meals' (quorn with veg in sauces basically)

I've already chucked the butter, cheese, sausages and sandwich meat in the bin as I figured I didn't want to take a chance!

Someone tell me what to do please, I really feel kike an idiot!

Thanks in advance everyone

Angua2

Hiya. I've done the same in the past, so don't feel too dizzy - OR welcome to the DizzyR'Us world!

Some suggestions:
1. Government food safety recommendations: http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:6J880U2YT24J:www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/sfbbfullpack.pdf+accidentally+defrosted+food&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=uk
[html version of PDF go to page 40]
2. Check your householder insurance policy / home contents - you might be able to get money to re-stock....

Pink.

Hi Fritha,

Poor you!

My dd switched our freezer off last year, thankfully it was only the smaller one and I managed to salvage quite a bit of the food as it most of it was raw meat. I took it out...ours was still very cold and only partially defrosted and did a massive batch cook. Once raw food has been cooked it's safe to refreeze. Could you do that with any of yours?

The veg, I would risk keeping in the freezer,especially as it's only partially defrosted but I would try to eat the bulk cooked ready meals over the next day or so.

Otherwise as Angua has said, have a look at your house insurance.

This older thread might help:

re-freezing food after power off

Pink