If you’re guilty of leaving your ice cream out to melt, join the club. Especially during summer months, people generally don’t think twice about bringing a tub of ice cream outside, but when that happens, you could be putting your health at risk. Here is why you should never refreeze melted ice cream.
Let’s not forget that ice cream is made of dairy (and sometimes eggs), and when it’s left out to sit in the sun, bacteria can start growing. And if you dig into the (what was once) cool treat, you could get an angry case of cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and other symptoms associated with food poisoning.
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Your best bet is to avoid eating melted ice cream all together or making sure you put the ice cream back into the freezer immediately after scooping some for yourself. Or just eat the whole damn pint already.
The Daily Mail has some even worse news when it comes to contaminated summer foods you didn’t think could make you sick.
And it isn’t only processed food and drink that can ruin your weekend. Cantaloupes and watermelons have been linked to Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria outbreaks, as pathogens from the soil can reside in the fruit’s skin.
Washing your fruit under running water is usually sufficient, but bacteria can be introduced to the inside of the melon if the outside is not washed properly, giving them all the nutrients they need and the proper temperature and time to grow.
While it’s usually pretty clear when fruit has turned (rotten smell, mold), Listeria can grow in the fridge with no smell or taste. The Daily Mail says if you’re worried about getting sick from food you thought was safe, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly, monitor the temperature of your food (no melted ice cream!) and ensure you don’t leave food in the warm sun for too long.
To recap when you should never refreeze frozen ice cream – conditions in ice cream are prime for bacteria growth and as a result, the risk of food poisoning is high. Besides that, the dreamy creamy texture you’re craving would simply not be satisfied if you tried to eat refrozen ice cream
