Double dipping, then freezing?
After our last, quite successful pot roast, we found ourselves with about a quart of extra gravy. Not sure how that happened, as we usually run short. Anyway, I had just decanted it into a Pyrex bowl and was about to freeze it, and decided to take a last taste. Unfortunately I realized too late that I had picked up the wrong spoon from the counter -- rather than the clean spoon, I had used one that I previously used for tasting -- IOW, double dipping.
I know this is bad and a potential source of trouble -- mouth bacteria multiplying, etc. But I was not about to toss this beautiful gravy, and was all set to put it into a pot and bring to a boil, which I assumed would take care of any contamination. My GF said no, just freeze it and if I'm worried about it, I can boil it when we defrost later -- that the freezing would stop any possible bacterial growth.
1. Is she right that freezing will at least postpone any potential problems? (I suspect yes)
2. Am I right that boiling it upon defrost will sterilize it, making it safe again?
By Steve Green
on Jan 22, 2012 07:42 AM
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potential cooties could procreate while the gravy is freezing, but yeah, a boil on either end will take care of it. honestly, if it were my house, lol, i wouldn't worry about it.
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Nothing to worry about either way. I don't double dip when serving meals to guests but when it's just me, I do it freely. My mother, who was very fastidious, did it all the time and no one ever got sick. She used to say, "What's a few germs between friends?" When we got our first dog, there was a dedicated spoon for her canned dog food, and two soup bowls reserved for her food and water. Within oh, maybe a couple of months, that went by the wayside. My dad would let the dog lick ice cream from his spoon, then continue using the spoon to finish his dessert. IHe never suffered any consquences.
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I have to laugh...I never heard the word 'decanted' used with reference to gravy.
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It's likely that we've all done this sort of thing without noticing, and that it is usually OK. But you're aware that you did it, and if you're like me you'll fret about it.
If it were me, I'd bring it to a boil, then cool it down and freeze it. I'm sure boiling it after thawing would work as well, but I'd go ahead and do it just to stop myself thinking about it.
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Yes, to both of your questions.
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