let them have the meat cold. But the cold meat should be packed with a freezer gel pack or frozen juice box in an insulated lunch bag to keep the meat at refrigerator temperature until eaten. If I want to refreeze a thawed food, how long and at what temperature should I cook it first? If the food was thawed in the refrigerator and is always very coll to the touch, it may be refrozen without cooking as long as it has not passed its preservation time in the refrigerator. If you cook it before refreezing, it should be thoroughly cooked at your normal cooking temperature.  Cool down rapidly and as needed, separate in indivisual portions before freezing. I am wondering if I can prepare a vegetable soup using the juice coming from the ham? Liquid which comes from a ham is not like a broth made from simmering bones with water and vegetables. It is salty water and may contain some nitrates. Do not use it in soup. I purchased 5 lbs of boneless chicken breast and it expired on one day ago, it is safe to eat? Raw chicken breasts should be cooked or frozen on or before the Best Before Date. After that there will be loss of quality and there is a risk of multiplication of harmful bacteria that could cause problem if the breasts are not properly cooked. Is it possible to keep left-over meals of vegetables and meat in an aluminium  or metal pan