Australia's Science Forum

HI!, I have just picked up a very large block of frozen hearts from our local butcher. Now I have a question about how long I can keep them for. The dissection pracs are set for tuesday, wednesday and thursday next , now my problem is that because they are all frozen in a big lump and this weekend is a long weekend, how long is too long to leave them in the fridge? I can't separate them untill they are defrosted, now if i leave a big lump of them in the fridge from today will they be wayy to stinky by thursday next week? Ahhhh I just dont know what to do about them HELP!!!

Maybe explain to Tuesday!!! what the problem is and suggest they do on one of the other days. Maybe they can be flexible

You could defrost them and refreeze them in class size lots then defrost as required. As you are not eating them this should be OK. I rather think I must have done this in the past.

Have managed to separate them into class size lumps, the teacher who needs them lives next door to the school so he has said he will come in on monday and take his batch out of the freezer. the rest can wait for defrosting till next week

What a "warm hearted" fellow, to come in on a public holiday!
(sorry. couldn't resist that one)
Ian

Row,

I'm with dime. All the rules about not defrosting are for if you are going to EAT things. In this case one presumes you're not, so next time you could just go ahead and defrost the lump!

reguardless if you are eating or not when you refreeze met it forms large crystals of ice that cuts meat fibres and when you thaw for second time they can go to mush!