# Thawed frozen hamburger to make meatloaf --\> can I freeze meatloaf slices? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 20, 2020, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thawed-frozen-hamburger-to-make-meatloaf-can-i-freeze-meatloaf-slices/852231 "2020-04-20T23:16:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thawed-frozen-hamburger-to-make-meatloaf-can-i-freeze-meatloaf-slices/852231/1 "2020-04-20T23:16:45Z")
Found a pound of hamburger in the back of the freezer and thawed it in the fridge. I made a meatloaf with it in my Instant Pot today. You put 3/4 cup of water in the bottom, Make a foil sling and use the trivet to hold the meat above the water and so you can lift out the finished meatloaf. Cook on high pressure for 35 minutes (to temp 160). Then transfer to another pan, put your glaze on the top, and slide under the broiler for a bit. Came out great! But I digress… It’s too much for me to eat in a couple of days, so can I freeze some slices? I know you’re not supposed to thaw and re-freeze meat, but this isn’t that, right? I’m never sure about this. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thawed-frozen-hamburger-to-make-meatloaf-can-i-freeze-meatloaf-slices/852231/2 "2020-04-20T23:20:33Z")
Don’t freeze and refreeze thawed meat. It’s not dangerous, it just wrecks the flavor and texture of the meat. Once cooked you can freeze it again. Look at a meatloaf TV dinner, that’s cooked meatloaf that’s been frozen. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thawed-frozen-hamburger-to-make-meatloaf-can-i-freeze-meatloaf-slices/852231/3 "2020-04-20T23:24:42Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Don’t freeze and refreeze thawed meat. It’s not dangerous, it just wrecks the flavor and texture of the meat. Once cooked you can freeze it again. Look at a meatloaf TV dinner, that’s cooked meatloaf that’s been frozen. FOUR MINUTES! I love this board. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thawed-frozen-hamburger-to-make-meatloaf-can-i-freeze-meatloaf-slices/852231/4 "2020-04-20T23:29:03Z")
As a follow up, thawing and refreezing meat can be a problem if proper handling procedures are not followed. Freezing doesn’t kill bacteria, so all the time the meat was unfrozen prior to refreezing counts. If you don’t know or remember how frozen meat was kept when previously thawed then you might have a problem. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thawed-frozen-hamburger-to-make-meatloaf-can-i-freeze-meatloaf-slices/852231/5 "2020-04-20T23:43:26Z")
Cooked meatloaf?? Of course ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thawed-frozen-hamburger-to-make-meatloaf-can-i-freeze-meatloaf-slices/852231/6 "2020-04-21T00:10:51Z")
I have done exactly as you describe a couple of weeks ago. We just had some of it, day before yesterday and it was perfect. (I actually do it all the time, never had a problem!) ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thawed-frozen-hamburger-to-make-meatloaf-can-i-freeze-meatloaf-slices/852231/7 "2020-04-21T00:24:28Z")
They sell frozen meatloaf and have been doing so for decades. It’s fine. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thawed-frozen-hamburger-to-make-meatloaf-can-i-freeze-meatloaf-slices/852231/8 "2020-04-21T01:22:24Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > They sell frozen meatloaf and have been doing so for decades. It’s fine. I knew that. My question was about meatloaf made from \*\*previously frozen \*\*ground meat. The verdict is yes! Thanks, y’all. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thawed-frozen-hamburger-to-make-meatloaf-can-i-freeze-meatloaf-slices/852231/9 "2020-04-21T01:41:32Z")
I freeze small bags of meatloaf for sandwiches. Very fast lunch, grab a slice of meatloaf from the freezer. Remove from Ziploc bag and put on a plate. Cover with paper towel and microwave for \*\*\*3 to 4 mins. Toast the bread while the meatloaf heats. \*\*\*Don’t over heat. Check it several times after 2 1/2 mins. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thawed-frozen-hamburger-to-make-meatloaf-can-i-freeze-meatloaf-slices/852231/10 "2020-04-21T02:25:11Z")
Yes. Fully cooked meat can be refrozen. I see no problems. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thawed-frozen-hamburger-to-make-meatloaf-can-i-freeze-meatloaf-slices/852231/11 "2020-04-21T04:06:53Z")
I have a container in the freezer with some gravy in it, and I add any cooked leftover hamburg or meatloaf (whether it was frozen previously or not) into that gravy container (I thaw it in the microwave, of course, and put the meat in and stir) and back in the freezer it goes. Been eating this for years when needed and we are still alive 40 years later. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thawed-frozen-hamburger-to-make-meatloaf-can-i-freeze-meatloaf-slices/852231/12 "2020-04-21T11:49:12Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I have a container in the freezer with some gravy in it, and I add any cooked leftover hamburg or meatloaf (whether it was frozen previously or not) into that gravy container (I thaw it in the microwave, of course, and put the meat in and stir) and back in the freezer it goes. Been eating this for years when needed and we are still alive 40 years later. Oooo… this is like the [Miraculous Pitcher of Milk](https://www.setonmagazine.com/dad/dr-mitchell-kalpakgian/the-essence-of-hospitality-baucis-philemons-miraculous-pitcher). 🙂 Sort of. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thawed-frozen-hamburger-to-make-meatloaf-can-i-freeze-meatloaf-slices/852231/13 "2020-04-21T12:02:48Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I knew that. My question was about meatloaf made from \*\*previously frozen \*\*ground meat. > > The verdict is yes! Thanks, y’all. 🙂 Ok yes I see. As I understand it cooking any food resets the frozen ‘clock’, it resets all the ‘best by’ dates. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thawed-frozen-hamburger-to-make-meatloaf-can-i-freeze-meatloaf-slices/852231/14 "2020-04-23T05:14:28Z")
You can safely freeze meat twice: Once raw and once cooked.