Can You Refreeze Sausage? (Solved!)
Buying frozen sausages is a convenient way to save money by taking advantage of a good deal and storing what you don’t need.
Freezing is also a great way to keep your own homemade sausages, preserving them longer. But what about sausages that have already been thawed? Can you refreeze sausage?
Yes, you can refreeze raw or cooked sausage that has previously been frozen, as long as it was thawed in the refrigerator and never reached room temperature or if it was entirely cooked before refreezing.
However, the sausage will taste better if cooked before being refrozen.
So let’s learn more about how to safely refreeze sausage.
Can You Refreeze Sausages After Defrosting?
You can refreeze raw sausage if you follow simple guidelines to ensure food safety. Here are the most important things to know about refreezing sausages:
Thaw Raw Sausage Safely
When you remove frozen sausage from the freezer, make sure it’s tightly sealed and still in good condition.
Keep the sausage in an airtight container, and place it in the refrigerator to thaw slowly at 5°C or less.
Handle Thawed Raw Sausage Carefully
Once defrosted, keep sausage in the refrigerator at cold temperatures.
Keep the container tightly sealed to avoid exposing it to oxygen or bacteria. Cook or refreeze defrosted sausage within 2 days.
Refreeze Raw Sausage Correctly
To refreeze raw sausage that has been defrosted, place it in an airtight container, and press out any excess air. Then, place the sausage in the coldest part of the freezer to refreeze it quickly.
Keep in mind that refrozen meats may be lower in quality than sausage that has only been frozen once.
In addition, refreezing sausage causes a loss of moisture and texture, as the water in the meat forms ice crystals that alter the cellular structure.
Cook your sausage before refreezing, instead of refreezing raw sausage.
If you plan to refreeze your sausage, never allow it to reach room temperature or temperatures over 5°C.
When sausage reaches warmer temperatures, bacteria can begin to grow on the surface.
Therefore, if frozen raw sausage has been allowed to reach warmer temperatures during the defrosting process, always cook it before refreezing to kill any bacteria.
Can You Refreeze Sausages Once Cooked?
Cooking thawed sausages before refreezing them is best to preserve their moisture and texture.
Cooked sausages also last longer in the freezer than refrozen raw sausages and are easier to reheat and eat when you are ready.
To refreeze sausages after cooking:
Cool Them Completely
Allow cooked sausages to reach room temperature before refreezing.
Seal Them Tightly
Place cooked sausages in an airtight container or wrap, and press out excess air before freezing.
Add a date label to the package to know when the sausage was frozen.
Freeze Them Quickly
Place the container of cooked sausage in the coldest part of the freezer, allowing them to freeze rapidly.
Refrozen cooked sausage will remain at peak flavor and quality for up to three months but will stay safe to eat as long as it remains completely frozen.
How Many Times Can You Refreeze Sausage?
You can only refreeze sausage one time. Once sausage has been defrosted and refrozen, it can be defrosted a second time, and then it should be eaten.
It’s always good to portion sausage before refreezing because it is not safe or recommended to repeatedly thaw and defrost sausage.
Freezing raw or cooked sausage in smaller, portion-sized containers allows you to only defrost as much sausage as you plan to eat.
FAQ
Can You Refreeze Sausage Rolls?
Yes, you can refreeze sausage rolls. Sausage rolls are best cooked directly from frozen rather than defrosting first.
However, if you have defrosted sausage rolls, you can cook and refreeze them one time.
Repeated defrosting and refreezing will impair the texture and flavor of sausage rolls.
Can You Refreeze Smoked Sausage?
Yes, you can refreeze smoked sausages, as long as they thaw at cold temperatures below 5°C or are entirely cooked before refreezing.
If smoked sausages have been allowed to reach room temperature, they should always be cooked before refreezing.
Can You Refreeze Italian Sausage?
Yes, you can refreeze Italian sausage after it has been defrosted if it has been thawed in the refrigerator at cold temperatures.
You can also refreeze Italian sausage after being cooked, preserving more moisture and texture than refreezing raw Italian sausage.
Can You Refreeze Summer Sausage?
Yes, you can refreeze summer sausage after it has been thawed, as long as it has stayed at cool temperatures the entire time.
If summer sausage has been exposed to warm temperatures during defrosting, it should be cooked before refreezing.
In Summary
You can safely and easily refreeze any type of sausage and enjoy it when you want.
This is an excellent solution if you need to portion sausage, preserve leftovers, or have had a power outage where frozen meats have defrosted.
When defrosting sausage for refreezing, remember to keep it cold the entire time, thawing it gradually and never exposing it to warm temperatures.
If sausage has warmed during the defrosting process, cook it completely before refreezing.
Refrozen cooked sausage will last for months in the freezer, remaining safe and delicious for long periods.
