Thaw It Safely

• Whether you can refreeze partially thawed hamburger depends mostly on how it was thawed. Hamburger can be safely thawed by storing it in the refrigerator overnight, by setting it in tepid water or in the microwave. However, you should only refreeze meat that was thawed in the refrigerator, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thawing meat in cold water or by microwaving it are less predictable methods and may allow some bacterial growth. Immediately cook hamburger thawed with either of those methods. Once the hamburger has been fully cooked to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, you can freeze it.

Consider Quality

• Although you can safely refreeze partially thawed hamburger, it may lose quality. Thawing and refreezing removes moisture from the meat and may make it more prone to freezer burn. Because ground meat receives more exposure to air, it doesn't retain quality in the freezer as long as whole cuts of meat. Frozen hamburger should be used within four months, suggests the USDA, and hamburger that's been partially thawed and refrozen before should be used even more quickly -- within two months.

Into the Freezer

• To refreeze partially thawed hamburger, pack it into plastic, air-tight containers or heavy freezer bags. Remove as much of the air as you can and seal the packages tightly. Label the packages with the date, and store them in a freezer set at zero degrees F or less. To use this hamburger, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight, microwave it or set it in cold water.

Spice It Up

• Although partially thawed and refrozen hamburger is perfectly safe to use, it may taste slightly dry or lose some of its flavor. Compensate for this by using it in highly seasoned dishes and casseroles that contain moisture. For example, try it in spaghetti sauce, sloppy joes or tacos. You're more likely to notice changes in quality if you use refrozen hamburger in simple dishes such as burgers or meatloaf.