Can you re-freeze melted ice cream.

[CTyankee]

I accidentally left a tub of ice cream on my kitchen counter last night. This morning I popped it into the freezer. Will it be OK to eat?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I think it will be OK to eat, BUT the texture will be not be like ice cream.

It will be ice crystals, I think. I'd throw it out if I were you.

[Moostache]

2. If you had it out for less than 24 hours....

It probably won't refreeze right - there will be ice crystals formed from the atmospheric moisture that is adsorbed by ice cream when melting at room tempertures. Most ice cream has a specific freezing protocol (with controls and conditions to optimize it) that creates the texture and smoothness that re-frozen won't have...

But from a microbioloical perspective, until the material gets fully thawed and bacteria start to colonize and grow in it (usually not duing the thaw, but not impossibe either) you would not be at significant risk to try refreezing and eating it. The re-freeze would kill some bacteria and halt the growth of others.

Smell test is not foolproof but better than nothing - if it smells bad (sour milk-y) throw it out. If you don't mind ice crystals and a lack of smoothness, go for it.... Good luck!

[KarenS]

3. I wouldn't,,,,

but that really sucks,,,, I hate when I do things like that.

[CrispyQ]

4. One night? It's probably okay.

I'm more curious what the texture is like. Be brave enough to at least take one bite, okay?

[Irish_Dem]

5. In Wisconsin they'd put you in jail for both crimes.

Letting your ice cream melt and then re-freezing it.

My Wisconsin uncle used to tell us it was against the law in the state of Wisconsin
to serve apple pie without a slice a cheese.

[MIButterfly]

6. I wouldn't eat it.

When in doubt, throw it out is my attitude. It's better to be safe than sorry.

I had food poisoning once and believe me, it's not worth it. Please don't find out the hard way.

[Laffy Kat]

8. I'm with you.

It's one thing to eat it yourself, but I wouldn't give it to anyone else, lest they get sick.

[CTyankee]

10. Too late! I just tried a few bites about half an hour ago. Not dead yet.

So far. Who know what can come in the night?

[MIButterfly]

11. I don't think a few bites would hurt you that much, if at all.

I hope it works out. Good luck. Keep us posted! I wish you all the best.

And please, don't leave the ice cream out again!

[CTyankee]

12. Thank you!

My memory is getting sketchy. I can remember stuff from long ago and then I forget to put away the ice cream!

[MIButterfly]

13. I can relate.

I once ran into a woman I had worked with who l hadn't seen in over 12 years and I asked her "How are your granddaughters, Itsy and Bitsy?" Later I wondered how I could remember the names of her granddaughters after so many years and yet could not remember the number on the file I had just looked at 30 seconds ago.

[CTyankee]

14. I became an art historian years ago after I retired from a different field entirely.

I "downloaded" so many facts about artists and the eras they painted in that I think I used up all the memory my brain could hold. So that's my excuse....

[taxi]

7. Root beer floats for everyone?

[ailsagirl]

9. Googled it

"While you can technically refreeze melted ice cream, it's generally not recommended due to changes in texture and potential safety concerns. Refreezing can result in a hard, icy consistency, and if the ice cream has been left out at room temperature for an extended period, there's a risk of bacterial growth."