Did a stupid thing yesterday. Went shopping and one of my purchases was one of
those frozen skillet meals that comes in a foil bag. I forgot to put it in the
freezer and when I realized it a few hours later, it seemed to have thawed. I
put it back in the freezer rather than throw it out. Would it be dangerous to
try and cook it now? It's a chicken parmagian with ziti dish. The chicken is
already cooked. All I'm doing its heating it up and melting the cheese and
sauce. I don't want to waste the $5 if I don't have to, but I don't want to get
food poisoning either. Thanks.

> wrote in message
...
> Did a stupid thing yesterday. Went shopping and one of my purchases was
> one of
> those frozen skillet meals that comes in a foil bag. I forgot to put it in
> the
> freezer and when I realized it a few hours later, it seemed to have
> thawed. I
> put it back in the freezer rather than throw it out. Would it be dangerous
> to
> try and cook it now? It's a chicken parmagian with ziti dish. The chicken
> is
> already cooked. All I'm doing its heating it up and melting the cheese and
> sauce. I don't want to waste the $5 if I don't have to, but I don't want
> to get
> food poisoning either. Thanks.


There's a cliche, "When in doubt, leave it out." I would expand on this
phrase to "When in doubt, throw it out."

You could have (but that time has passed) POSSIBLY upon your determination
at that time whether it was too late, cooked it then and had it the next
day.

No amount of savings is worth taking the chance of getting sick over.
My opinion, only, not worth probably even 2 cents, but that's the way I will
do it if DH isn't looking over my shoulder.
Dee Dee

Yes it would be dangerous to eat it now - best through it away.

wrote:

> Did a stupid thing yesterday. Went shopping and one of my purchases was one of
> those frozen skillet meals that comes in a foil bag. I forgot to put it in the
> freezer and when I realized it a few hours later, it seemed to have thawed. I
> put it back in the freezer rather than throw it out. Would it be dangerous to
> try and cook it now? It's a chicken parmagian with ziti dish. The chicken is
> already cooked. All I'm doing its heating it up and melting the cheese and
> sauce. I don't want to waste the $5 if I don't have to, but I don't want to get
> food poisoning either. Thanks.

I know someone whose done this sort of thing all his life, and never
been poisoned, but that doesnt make it altogether safe. I dont mind
refreezing veges, but wouldnt do it with meat fish or rice.

OTOH you could safely keep it a day thawed then eat it. In this case
I'd cook it pronto, not keep it frozen. It takes time to go off
unfrozen, and if youre within that time frame youre quite safe. If OTOH
you refroze meat and ate it 6 months later... good luck

Freezing slows bacteria way down, but doesnt stop them entirely.


NT