Thawing is the process of taking a frozen product from frozen to a temperature (usually above 0°C) where there is no residual ice, i.e. “defrosting”. Thawing is often considered as simply the reversal of the freezing process.

What happens when food is thawed?

When the water freezes, it expands and the ice crystals cause the cell walls to rupture. So the texture of thawed produce is much softer than when it was raw. This is particularly true of food that is usually eaten raw. For example, when a frozen tomato is thawed, it becomes mushy and watery.

Do not refreeze after thawing meaning?

Once food is thawed in the refrigerator, it is safe to refreeze it without cooking, although there may be a loss of quality due to the moisture lost through thawing. ... If previously cooked foods are thawed in the refrigerator, you may refreeze the unused portion. Freeze leftovers within 3-4 days.