It will be ice crystals, I think. I'd throw it out if I were you.

It probably won't refreeze right - there will be ice crystals formed from the atmospheric moisture that is adsorbed by ice cream when melting at room tempertures. Most ice cream has a specific freezing protocol (with controls and conditions to optimize it) that creates the texture and smoothness that re-frozen won't have...

But from a microbioloical perspective, until the material gets fully thawed and bacteria start to colonize and grow in it (usually not duing the thaw, but not impossibe either) you would not be at significant risk to try refreezing and eating it. The re-freeze would kill some bacteria and halt the growth of others.

Smell test is not foolproof but better than nothing - if it smells bad (sour milk-y) throw it out. If you don't mind ice crystals and a lack of smoothness, go for it.... Good luck!

but that really sucks,,,, I hate when I do things like that.

I'm more curious what the texture is like. Be brave enough to at least take one bite, okay?

Letting your ice cream melt and then re-freezing it.

My Wisconsin uncle used to tell us it was against the law in the state of Wisconsin
to serve apple pie without a slice a cheese.

When in doubt, throw it out is my attitude. It's better to be safe than sorry.

I had food poisoning once and believe me, it's not worth it. Please don't find out the hard way.

It's one thing to eat it yourself, but I wouldn't give it to anyone else, lest they get sick.

So far. Who know what can come in the night?

I hope it works out. Good luck. Keep us posted! I wish you all the best.

And please, don't leave the ice cream out again!

My memory is getting sketchy. I can remember stuff from long ago and then I forget to put away the ice cream!

I once ran into a woman I had worked with who l hadn't seen in over 12 years and I asked her "How are your granddaughters, Itsy and Bitsy?" Later I wondered how I could remember the names of her granddaughters after so many years and yet could not remember the number on the file I had just looked at 30 seconds ago.

I "downloaded" so many facts about artists and the eras they painted in that I think I used up all the memory my brain could hold. So that's my excuse....

"While you can technically refreeze melted ice cream, it's generally not recommended due to changes in texture and potential safety concerns. Refreezing can result in a hard, icy consistency, and if the ice cream has been left out at room temperature for an extended period, there's a risk of bacterial growth."