If frozen meat has defrosted, can it be refrozen?

If frozen meat has defrosted, can it be refrozen?

It’s not recommended, unless the meat is cooked first.

The reasons for this are:

• There can be microbial risk (a disease-causing bacterium)as a result of refreezing. This can be avoided by cooking the meat before refreezing. 

• The quality of the meat is affected. Freezing creates ice crystals within the structure of the meat (as meat contains a high percentage of water). These tiny ice crystals rupture the fibre of the meat, which causes the meat to loose a little of this water when defrosted. If repeated freezing occurs the meat will be very dry and unpleasant to eat. 

Freezer storage times for fresh beef and lamb

Sausages:  1-2 months
Mince:  2-3 months
Meats strips:  2-3 months
Diced meat:  2-3 months
Thin steaks (minute):  2-3 months
Steaks:  3-4 months
Roasts (boned and rolled):  4-6 months
Roasts (bone in):  4-6 months
Corned beef (fresh):  4-6 months
Vacuum packed meat (unopened):  4-6 months

The temperature of your fridge and freezer is important. Regularly check that both the fridge and freezer operate at these temperatures. 

• Fridge temperature: 4ºC to 5ºC
• Freezer temperature: -15ºC to -18ºC

http://www.themainmeal.com.au/TipTechniques/Essentials/How-to-freeze-and-defrost-meat/How+to+freeze+and+defrost+meat.htm