Melba's Jammin' wrote:
> I bought a one-pound can of crab meat at TJ on Thursday. On the side it
> said "Do not freeze." What'll happen if, say, hypothetically kind of,
> maybe put it outside where it's, uh, colder than, say, your average
> somebody's deep freeze and maybe somebody could hear it sounding kind
> of, you know, "slushy" in the can? If somebody eats it, are they doomed
> to die? What if it's warmed up some so it's not, uh, slushy-sounding
> but more like it's supposed to sound -- kind of liquidy-like?
>
> Is there a reason for the admonition to not freeze it other than
> expansion of the liquid and the likelihood of making the can bulge?
> Talk to me! I had a plan for that crab that didn't involve this week!


Freezing might ruin the texture. ;-)

Seriously? They are probably scared that the swollen can will open up a
little at the seam without being noticed; just enough to let spoilage
get it (or to leak crab juice all over your cabinets.) Also, if you are
in the habit of keeping frozen (swelled) cans in your pantry, how will
you tell the difference between that and a can that's swelled due to
spoilage?

If the can is bulged more than a little bit, keep it frozen or use it
right away. Otherwise, quit worrying about it (but use it up within a
month or so.)

JMHO,
Bob