What is a sign that frozen food has been refrozen?

A sign that frozen food has been refrozen is the presence of large ice crystals. When food is frozen, ice crystals form within it. If food thaws partially and then is refrozen, these crystals can grow larger due to the moisture that is released during the thawing process. Additionally, the presence of large ice crystals indicates that the food has undergone temperature fluctuations, which can impact its quality and safety.

In contrast, if items are completely thawed, it suggests that they have not been refrozen; instead, they have likely remained in a thawed state. The absence of ice indicates that the food was either never frozen or has been stored properly without fluctuations in temperature. Packaged in sealed containers does not provide any direct evidence regarding the freezing and refreezing status, as it relates more to storage practices than to the state of the food itself.