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family emergency can i freeze food prepared for a party today?


 

Michael Atwell

New member
I have a bit of a problem today. I was having a 3 year old birthday party today for about 50 people and my wife had difficulty breathing last night and was rushed to the hospital. She was admiited with pneumonia and has fluid in both her lungs. I have flank steak marinating, chicken marinating, pulled pork pulled, sausage and peppers. Can I freeze these items if i decide to have the party next weekend or am i better off cooking it today? how will the marinades hold up in the freezer? Thanks for your help
 
Sorry to hear it. Hope she is recovering.

If anything was previously frozen and you thawed it in order to apply the marinade, I would not refreeze it.

The marinaded food should keep in the frig for a week but I wouldn't store it still in the marinade; drain it thoroughly.

Whenever you're ready, I'd start cooking and then freezing or giving out.
 
Properly thawing of uncooked foods (in the fridge, say, among other ways) - foods that are going to be cooked thoroughly does not prevent re-freezing - not from a safety standpoint, though it can from a quality standpoint. Same for already cooked foods that have been frozen, but re-freezing has to be prompt (and proper food handling protocol should have been followed when the the food was originally cooked and cooled then frozen).

Drain the marinades. Were it me, whether I cooked them now or later would be determined by the marinade ingredients.

I hope your wife recovers quickly.
 
I smoked, then froze a beef roast, huge chicken breasts (more than a pound each), and sausage. All were either marinated or brined (the beef and the chicken) beforehand. All were great after thawing and re-searing on the grill. I would think that's your best option.

Hope you wife is fine. Rich
 
Thanks Guys for all your help. My wife was in the hospital all weekend and missed the party. I was going to cancel it, but she insisted on us having it. Everything was cooked as planned and her girlfriends were a tremendous help with setting up and making sure the kids were taken care of.
 
Hope your wife gets better soon. Q-ing is fun but it's much better with the whole family around to enjoy it.
 

 

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