Food Preservation During Outages
Sudden power outages can be frustrating and troublesome, especially when they are prolonged. Perishable foods should not be held above 40 degrees for more than 2 hours. If a power outage is 2 hours or less, you need not be concerned, but how do you save your food when the refrigerator is out for longer times? Being prepared can help. By planning ahead, you can save your perishables.
- What do I do after an outage?
- What do I need?
- What should be discarded after a power outage?
- What if I go to bed and the power is still not on?
- What if the power goes out while I’m at work or out of the house and it has been more than a few hours before I get home?
- What if the power goes out and comes back on while I am out?
What do I do after an outage?
Do not open the refrigerator or freezer. An unopened refrigerator
will keep foods cold enough for a couple of hours at least.
A freezer that is half full will hold for up to 24 hours and
a full freezer for 48 hours. If it looks like the power outage
will be for more than 2-4 hours, pack refrigerated milk, dairy
products, meats, fish, poultry, eggs, gravy, stuffing and left-overs
into your cooler surrounded by ice. If it looks like the power
outage will be prolonged, prepare a cooler with ice for your
freezer items.
What do I need?
One or more coolers. Inexpensive Styrofoam coolers can do
an excellent job as well. Shelf-stable foods, such as canned
goods and powdered or boxed milk. A digital quick-response thermometer.
With these thermometers you can quickly check the internal temperatures
of food for doneness and safety.
What should be discarded after a power outage?
As soon as the power returns, check temperatures. If the
food in the freezer has ice crystals and is not above 40 degrees
you can refreeze. Perishable foods in the refrigerator should
not be above 40 degrees F. for more than two hours.
What if I go to bed and the power is still
not on?
Before you go to bed, pack your perishables into your coolers
if you haven't already done so and put in as much ice as you
can. Also, when you go to bed, leave a bedroom light switched
on. When the power goes back on, it will wake you, so you can
check the condition of your foods in the freezer.
What if the power goes out while I’m at work
or out of the house and it has been more than a few hours before
I get home?
Try to determine how long the power has been out. Check
the internal temperature of the food in your refrigerator with
your quick-response thermometer. A liquid such as milk or juice
is easy to check. Spot check other items like steaks or left-overs
also. If the internal temperature is above 40 degrees, it is
best to throw it out.
What if the power goes out and comes back
on while I am out?
If your freezer is fairly full and you know it was not longer
than 24 hours, the food should be OK. There will be loss of
quality with refreezing, but the food will be safe. If the refrigerator
was out for more than 2-4 hours, you are best to discard the
perishables.
