Will My Refrigerator Ultimately Be My Demise?
I have been buying Bush Pinto Beans in the bulk cans for years. I eat them everyday. Because, It takes me about 7-10 days to go through an entire bulk can. So, I just recently started portioning the bulk cans out into little plastic ziploc bags that I store in a larger container in a mini-fridge with a very small top freezer.
For the past week or so I thought I had finally figured out the best way to save money on my meals and do it in a healthy way. After today, it seems the challenge is still upon me.
For about the past 3 days I've been pulling a ziploc bag out of my larger container from the freezer for dinner and cooking the beans from a fairly frozen state. Well, the beans end up breaking down into a mush.
Today, I decided to pull a frozen bag out of the freezer about 4 hours before dinner and put it in the refrigerated portion of my mini-fridge. I know better than to thaw at room temperature.
To my surprise, the bag I was going to pull out was already thawed. And I said to myself, what's going on? Is my refrigerator broken? Well, I think my refrigerator is working very well but it's going through defrosting phases.
So, behind my back, my frozen ziploc bags of beans are, apparently being thawed and re-frozen, for all I know, on a daily basis.
Learning this today just makes me want to give up sometimes. No matter, how hard you try to be safe, something is always going to get you.
Having the beans thaw/freeze/thaw/freeze on a daily basis cannot be safe, can it?
I've eaten spoiled beans before, yes knowingly because I didn't want to waste them. And I'll probably do the same since I only have 2 ziploc bags left. But I'm not stupid enough to continue doing this.
Can someone let me know if I am overreacting on this? I plan to use a larger upright freezer that doesn't go through these thawing cycles, or do they? I just don't know.
I don't understand, Why put canned food in a Freezer?
IMEX non-overloaded, functional Freezers (-12degC > -18degC) do not thaw their contents. You need a new, proper, freezer. Or a repairman,
If you are really concerned, maybe see this thread -
I don't understand, Why put canned food in a Freezer?
IMEX non-overloaded, functional Freezers (-12degC > -18degC) do not thaw their contents. You need a new, proper, freezer. Or a repairman,
If you are really concerned, maybe see this thread -
Because, once the bulk can is opened the beans are now exposed to air and they would spoil in 3-5 days if I only refrigerated them. I thought I explained all this pretty well in the original post. Maybe I don't understand your question.
One of the funniest posts I've read on here, thank you!!!
Because, once the bulk can is opened the beans are now exposed to air and they would spoil in 3-5 days if I only refrigerated them. I thought I explained all this pretty well in the original post. Maybe I don't understand your question.
Sorry, i thought you meant the unopened cans > freezer. Stranger events have been known.
Regret no idea what Pinto beans are (sounds like they resist freezing) or yr can net weight but I suggest (in addition to new freezer) to switch to smaller cans and vary yr diet a little.
I occasionally eat canned baked beans ca 300g and this stores OK in chilled section 2-3 days. Excessive BB consumption poses a Blazing Saddles risk of course.
One of the funniest posts I've read on here, thank you!!!
"Whaddya mean funny? Funny how? How am I funny? I'm funny how, I mean funny, like I'm a clown? I amuse you. I make you laugh?"
I'd chuck the beans and get a new freezer.
Pinto beans are the bean commonly used in Mexican cuisine here in The States as 'refried beans'. I've always enjoyed them best in their refried state with the consistency of peanut butter (stiff!).
That said, the defrost cycle of your freezer shouldn't be thawing to the extent you are experiencing. You might wish to consult your trusted appliance repair-person for their experience with your specific refrigeration unit.
Sorry, i thought you meant the unopened cans > freezer. Stranger events have been known.
Regret no idea what Pinto beans are (sounds like they resist freezing) or yr can net weight but I suggest (in addition to new freezer) to switch to smaller cans and vary yr diet a little.
I occasionally eat canned baked beans ca 300g and this stores OK in chilled section 2-3 days. Excessive BB consumption poses a Blazing Saddles risk of course.
"Excessive BB consumption poses a Blazing Saddles risk of course."
This has to be the best thing I've read in a long time...I can't stop laughing as I'm mentally replaying that scene in my mind...thanks, Charles.C!!! Hahahahahaha!!
I reckon you'll be fine!
Firstly your beans have a pretty low microbial load when you put them in the freezer (because they've been canned and because ziplock bags are essentially sterile on the inside).
Secondly, when the freezer does its thaw cycle (almost all domestic freezers do this), the beans, although thawing, should still remain pretty cold. They would need to get hotter than 5 degrees Celsius for more than 2 hours before they would begin to become unsafe.
Thirdly, you are cooking your beans before you eat them.
I think you are safe to eat your beans. And keep your freezer.