 Question on thawing and refreezing
#188819 - 04/06/2008 12:36 AM |
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How do you thaw the meat and store it? I've been doing research and read not to thaw on a counter and refreeze? How does everyone prepare their raw meals?
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Re: Question on thawing and refreezing
[Re: Alex Corral ]
#188822 - 04/06/2008 01:16 AM |
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Reg: 08-29-2006
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Loc: Central Coast, California
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I thaw in the fridge overnight or, if I've forgotten to take it out the night before, I thaw it in cold water submerged in the sink for a few hours.
And I always keep a can of mackeral on hand for the times I really blow it and nothing is thawed 
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Re: Question on thawing and refreezing
[Re: Alex Corral ]
#188823 - 04/06/2008 01:18 AM |
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If it's me we're talking about it doesn't exactly appeal to my palate as it causes nasty freezerburn. The dogs I've given some lightly freezerburnt stuff to don't seem to mind it and seem to snarf it down with no ill effects. Keep in mind that dogs/canids in the wild regularly scavenge from partially frozen carcasses all the time. There are actually quite a few raw feeders in this area who put out ads in the paper for freezerburnt meat for dogs, large cats, and bears.
That said I generally try to keep the freeze and thaw to once on the counter and stuff that I intend to feed over several days I thaw in the fridge. I very rarely refreeze things. Most of the time my protein for raw feedings these days are also things I eat as well usually the same night so life generally is pretty much on the side of food safety.
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Re: Question on thawing and refreezing
[Re: Melissa Thom ]
#188824 - 04/06/2008 02:18 AM |
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I buy whole chickens, cut 'em up into a "teeth cleaning" group - backs, wings, necks - and then grind the rest. I store/freeze everything into 2-meal ziplocks. I'll put a package on the counter or sometimes outside to thaw. In a pinch, I defrost them in the microwave, doing it real slow, real low power. I know that's supposedly not the thing to do, but. . . that's what I do! I never refreeze anything.
Mike
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Re: Question on thawing and refreezing
[Re: Mike Armstrong ]
#188838 - 04/06/2008 08:51 AM |
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I thaw in the sink in water and with my cases of meat, I thaw them just enough to be able to break apart and bag them and then refreeze.
Microwaves tend to cook from the inside out, so I will use it to thaw boneless meat, but not meat with bones.
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Re: Question on thawing and refreezing
[Re: Carol Boche ]
#188839 - 04/06/2008 09:49 AM |
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I also thaw in the sink. I use water if I need to hurry it a little. Frozen doesn't bother my dogs as much as it bothers me, they will it it.
Like Carol, when I get the large quantities, I thaw them enough to seperate them into smaler portions and refreeze.
I hav'nt used the microwave yet, even for ground meat, I just chop the frozen stuff with a meat cleaver and a mallet.
I don't worry about leaving meat for the dogs out on the counter too long, or refreezing it. You could probably leave it out for a week and they could eat it without harm (not that I would). I have seen the things a dog will eat, and some dogs like their meat ripe. Scavenging is common in the wild, old and rotten in the wild doesn't mean it isn't good food!
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Re: Question on thawing and refreezing
[Re: Alex Corral ]
#188848 - 04/06/2008 11:43 AM |
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Hey Alex, I usually put a whole chicken in the refrigerator over night and then cut it up and refreeze part of it. I use shears and it will still be frozen in the middle and still plenty cold on the outside.
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Re: Question on thawing and refreezing
[Re: Shody Lytle ]
#188850 - 04/06/2008 11:54 AM |
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Loc: Denver, CO
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Good point Shody, and thanks guys for the responses. The more sanitary, the better, but I agree the dogs can probably safely eat something thats been thawed on the counter for a day or so.
I have 2 reasons for my question.
1) My supplier sent me 1, 40lb case. Usually, I'd get 4 - 10lb bags, so I'd thaw out 1 bag, repackage 10 backs or so in 1 gallon bags, refreeze and each day, take out 2 backs to thaw in the fridge to feed. All 40lbs are too big for my sink, what's the best way to thaw now?
2) I am going to prepare raw meals for my brother's English Bulldog. She really can't chew a back or neck so I have to grind the meat and mix it together. I have to thaw the meat quite a bit in order to grind, then, refreeze into daily servings. Is that much thawing, grinding and refreezing still ok? I'm just trying to find the easiest, safest way to prepare it.
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Re: Question on thawing and refreezing
[Re: steve strom ]
#188851 - 04/06/2008 11:57 AM |
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Thanks Steve, yeah, usually, I'd let the 10lb bags thaw out just enough to pry loose, package them, then refreeze. For the 40lb case I have to thaw out quite a bit longer. I'd think to just pry off the outside backs as they loosen up to repackage, but I'm at work most of the day, and can't really be nearby to pry as they loosen.
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Re: Question on thawing and refreezing
[Re: Alex Corral ]
#188853 - 04/06/2008 12:09 PM |
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Reg: 03-17-2006
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Good point Shody, and thanks guys for the responses. The more sanitary, the better, but I agree the dogs can probably safely eat something thats been thawed on the counter for a day or so.
I have 2 reasons for my question.
1) My supplier sent me 1, 40lb case. Usually, I'd get 4 - 10lb bags, so I'd thaw out 1 bag, repackage 10 backs or so in 1 gallon bags, refreeze and each day, take out 2 backs to thaw in the fridge to feed. All 40lbs are too big for my sink, what's the best way to thaw now?
2) I am going to prepare raw meals for my brother's English Bulldog. She really can't chew a back or neck so I have to grind the meat and mix it together. I have to thaw the meat quite a bit in order to grind, then, refreeze into daily servings. Is that much thawing, grinding and refreezing still ok? I'm just trying to find the easiest, safest way to prepare it.
For some reason I think I remember it being ok to partially thaw and refreeze it once but not a second time. I couldnt tell you where I got that from though Alex.
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