The tasty blend of meat, spices, and flavorings can make sausage irresistible to you. It can enhance everything you serve it along. That is why you might prefer storing it in bulk quantity as it is easy to cook and taste delicious.
It can become a little challenging to stop it from thawing while on the way back home, especially in hot weather. No matter the circumstances, freezing the sausages again is the first thing you might think. But, will it provide the results you require?
You can refreeze both raw and cooked sausages safely. They can last for about four to five-week if you handle them properly. Cool the cooked sausages down before you place them in the freezer. Ensure to cover them in freezer-friendly packaging or vacuum-sealed bags. Always thaw them in the fridge as it helps to refreeze with ease.
Whether you have beef or poultry sausages, they are prone to spoil due to the meat base. You can save yourself from unnecessary food wastage by following a few safety tips. Let’s have a look at them!
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Refreezing Thawed Sausage: A Complete Guide
Every age group loves sausages for their burst of flavor and meaty mouthfeel. From a simple breakfast menu to a lavish dinner, they can make any table look delicious. Thus, buying them in bulk makes sense, and you might have stocked them up as well.
When it comes to storing them, you might consider freezing them. However, once you thaw the sausages, it can be a hassle to figure out what to do with the leftovers. The good news is you can refreeze them either raw or cooked.
Similarly, if your store-bought sausages thawed on the way back home, you can pop the whole bulk back in the freezer. However, you have to handle them safely to yield lasting results. Always thaw the sausages in a refrigerator so you can freeze them again. Also, after you defrost, avoid leaving them at room temperature for longer durations.
As sausage is composed of meat, it perishes if you keep them exposed to air. The bacteria starts lurking inside and initiates early spoilage. If you keep these points in mind, you can successfully refreeze sausages.
Cooked sausages
If you like storing your sausages in cooked form, you can refreeze them for future use. But, you have to be extra careful while handling them. Once cooked, you should cool them down quickly and freeze or refrigerate them within two hours.
If you allow them to sit in the open air for longer, they can get contaminated. As an outcome, sausages are at risk of causing you food-borne diseases. Also, cover them in proper safety packaging to ensure it remains intact while in the freezer.
Raw/uncooked sausages
If you thawed your uncooked sausages in the fridge for preparing some dishes and changed the idea at the last minute, you can place them back in the freezer. As long as they remain in the refrigerator, you can opt for the refreezing option.
However, do not keep the raw sausages in the fridge for more than 2-3 days. Inside the cold environment, there is a high chance of bacterial activity, and you want to avoid that.
Commercially frozen sausages
When you buy frozen sausages from a market, they usually come in factory packaging. The packaging design makes them able to withstand extreme temperature changes. Thus, you can directly transfer them to the freezer if they thaw outside.
If you have already opened the packaging, you can cover them in heavy-duty freezer bags, and they will work well. Also, always place the sausages in a safe freezer corner. So, it doesn’t squish under the weight of other food items.
The Safest Method To Refreeze Sausages
There are many varieties of high-quality frozen sausage products available in the market. You can defrost whatever amount is needed and store the remaining. Although refreezing your sausages is okay, you need to follow a simple procedure to gain good results.
To refreeze your sausages safely, all you need to do is:
- For cooked sausages, cool them down before placing them in the freezer. It helps to avoid freezer burns.
- Once it reaches the right temperature, pack them loosely into airtight containers or ziploc bags.
- Remove all the excess air out and seal it tightly. You can use a straw or vacuum-sealing machine for this purpose.
- For raw sausages, portion them into meal-size portions based on your usual usage.
- Next, wrap the individual batches securely in foil and fold all the edges tightly.
- Afterward, shift them to a heavy-duty freezer bag and place them in the coldest corner of the freezer.
- Mention the date of refreezing as a reminder and store for up till the desired time.
How Long Do Sausages Last After Refreezing?
The repeated process of freezing and thawing can alter the overall quality of your sausages. The harsh freezer air causes moisture loss, and the meat tends to lose its former rich flavors.
To get the maximum flavors, you can leave the sausages refrozen for a month and not more than this.
If you delay, they can develop freezer burns and an unpleasant taste. So, if you are not a fan of bland-tasting meat, avoid exceeding the four-week time frame for refreezing. The cooked sausages tend to perish faster than their raw counterparts. Thus, after cooking, it is better to utilize them sooner.
Besides, thawed sausages that you leave at the countertop for an extended period might not undergo refreezing. They are already exposed to air contamination and on the verge of spoilage. In such a situation, try to consume them and discard the leftovers.
Even if you freeze them again, they might spoil inside the freezer, and all your efforts will go to waste. Thus, it is crucial to refreeze your sausages at the right time and with the correct steps for lasting results.
How To Thaw Sausages For Effective Refreezing?
There are many ways to defrost your favorite kind of sausages. However, if you plan to refreeze them, the safest method to opt for is refrigerating them. Other thawing techniques like the hot water method or leaving on the countertop might not favor the refreezing process.
Thawing your sausages overnight in the fridge allows them to have limited contact with air, a leading cause of food contamination. Thus, they can easily survive another round of freezing without losing many of their nutritional properties.
Microwaving or letting them sit at room temperature might be faster methods for defrosting. But, they do not complement the refreezing. Go for these alternatives only if you are not deciding on the twice-freezing option.
You can also try the portion freezing method to avoid the continuous cycle of thawing and storing. It will allow you to use only the quantity you need without messing up the remaining ones.
Conclusion
To wrap it up, refreezing works well for all the different varieties of sausages. If you opt for refrigerator thawing initially, you can successfully keep the leftovers back in the freezer after thawing. It is crucial to cover them in standardized packaging so that sausages remain undisturbed while in the freezer. If you do not pack them well enough, they might absorb other food flavors.
Other thawing methods make the sausages unfit for refreezing. Thus, it is ideal to go for fridge thawing if you like storing them in the freezer. Although refreezing has many positive aspects, it can decrease the quality of your sausage meat, and you may notice changes in the taste.
Nevertheless, they are still safe for consumption, and you can pair them with other food items. This way, the loss of flavors might not be noticeable and satisfy your cravings. But remember not to keep the sausages refrozen for an extended period.
