When you lose power, the first thing you usually think is is to keep cold food during a break.
Regardless of whether it is the wind of a heavy storm in the summer, the weight of an ice storm in winter, or even a traffic accident that removes the energy line, you can apply for power failures at any time of the year.
If you are like most people, one of the first things you think when your energy comes out is food in the fridge and the freezer. How long can your food stay safely without power?
If possible, preparation and caution are two paths that you should follow to protect food reserves. Let’s look at preparation first.
Preparation
Make sure you have the thermometers of devices in the fridge and the freezer. Your fridge should maintain a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. However, your freezer should be 0 degrees or lower.
If the weather forecast requires strong storms, another way to prepare is to freeze plastic bags with the size of a liter size, which should be used as makeshift ice packages in the event of a power failure. Fill the bags of about three quarters full of water and match them around frozen and cooled food to keep it cold. Another way to prepare for a power failure is to maintain at least three -day delivery ready to consume for your family.
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Care
When the power supply comes out, it is important to keep the cold air you have on your devices. Open the fridge door and freezers as little as possible.
After closing, the fridge will properly cool the food for about four hours. The full freezer will keep the food for about 48 hours, and half the full freezer will do the same for 24 hours. If your freezer is not full, you can help you stay frozen by grouping them together.
If you know that your power will be available for over 24 hours, you can buy dry or block ice to extend the cooling time. The 50-pound dry ice package will help keep food in a full-free 18-cub free foot for about two days.
When your power returns, check each food items separately to break down. Remove any product that is warm to the touch or has an unusual smell or appearance. Do not taste food to determine its safety. Instead, follow the credo: “In case of doubt, throw it away.”
Check ice crystals or a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below for frozen foods. Frozen food, which was partly thawed or completely thawed, can be safely renovated if it still reveals ice crystals.
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Final thoughts
All foods are considered safe when stored in an unopened fridge, which was without power for a maximum of four hours. After this four -hour window, the American service of the safety and control of food and inspection of the United States Department of Agriculture recommends putting off cooked residues, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, soft cheese, salads and other breaking foods. Always get rid of all foodstuffs that may have been in contact with raw meat or its juices.
However, most of the spices are still safe after four hours without cooling. The list of good for the output includes ketchup, mustard, taste, jams, jelly, olives, soy sauce, grilled sauce, some hard cheese, as well as whole, undisturbed fruit and vegetables.
USDA maintains a website with specific food safety rules after a break. Here are some other helpful resources:
https://www.foodsafty.gov/keep/charts/refridg_food.html
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/d3506874-2867-4190-A941-d511d3fcae71/keep_your_food_safe_during_emergeni.pdf?mod=ajperes
https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2016/09/26/are-you-your-food-repered-power Outage
https://www.fda.gov/food/resourcesforou/consumers/Ucm076881.html
https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-pres-for-emergences/types-of-emergences/food-safety
What are your best tips, how to keep it cold when the power supply is outside? Share your tips in the section below: