Frozen Food Question

[mapster]

I read some where, some time ago that once frozen food has been defrosted, it can not be put back in the freezer or it will become contaminated and poisonus to fish.

1. Is that true
2. Is it OK, once defrosted, to leave it in the fridge?

One cube is way too much food for my fish. My fish seem to enjoy the frozen food more than anything else, so I would like to continue to use it.

Thanks for reading.

[GSM]

I don't know if it's safe or not to refreeze food. One cube is also way too much for my fish, so what I do is take a sharp knife & cut the cube in half as soon as I take it out of the freezer. Feed one half, put the other half back in the package.

I believe it's ok to put defrosted food in the fridge for a couple days.

[JMOR]

I usually take on cube and defrost it in a zip lock bag, then smash it in the bag and pull small bit size pieces out and feed. Then I would just put the bag back in the freezer. Never had any problems with this...

[Drew]

FWIW, I have on accident, left frozen food out for a few hours and used it with no ill effects. However, I would not ever do that on purpose. Once it's open, keep putting it back in the freezer, not the fridge.

Drew

[FLHT]

When ever my kids have "babysat" my fish they always
"forget" to put the frozen food back in the freezer
so when I return I've found it completely thawed.
I've always continued to use it with no problems.

[Deborah]

The standard for human consumption is that food is never refrozen. If food is allowed to defrost and get above 40 degrees or so the bacteria population can start growing. Even if you put it back in the freezer and the food doesn't smell rotten it can have a large amount of bacteria in it. Now, if the food never got above about 40 degrees F when it thawed it's probably not too much of a risk to your fish. (In the same way that we're told to defrost turkeys in the frige instead of on the counter these days).

Deborah
former cook and holder of a food handler's permit :-)

[Doug1]

I would cut off the right sized piece or bag it like Jason suggested.
Put thawed fish food in the fridge at your own risk !!!!!!!!!!!!! Most spouses don't like that sort of thing

[JennM]

While it's not advisable, I've re-frozen food and used it without incident.

I usually thaw more PE Mysis than I need at a time, it keeps for a day or two in the fridge, but I don't push it beyond that.

Doug: try putting the leftovers in a covered container....spouses generally don't mind that. OH and perhaps mark the contents on the cover, so nobody consumes it by accident for a midnight snack !!!

Jenn