A lack of working electricity can mean many things, but none necessarily more dangerous than the spoiling of food when it’s your only available resource. Luckily there is a quick and easy solution that can keep you both hydrated and fed once the grid is down.
Both refrigerators and freezers quickly lose their ability to keep their contents in safe, edible condition once the grid goes down. Freezers clock in around 24/48 hours if left sealed, while refrigerators can lose effect after just 4-6 hours… and that’s not much time to use what the average person has stored in their ice-box.
Keeping Food Safe When the Power Goes Out:
- Food-safe temperatures are 40°F or lower in the refrigerator and 0°F in the freezer. Store an appliance thermometer in both your refrigerator and freezer, marking the safe zones with a pen for quick reference.
- Store a few bottles or plastic bags of water in your freezer, being careful to not over fill the units. They will expand once frozen and may split or burst if over-filled. When given advanced notice of a potential disaster like a hurricane or tornado, this step should be repeated for the refrigerator as well.
- Know where you can source dry ice and/or large quantities of regular ice. Many grocery stores, gas stations and mini marts have ice available for purchase.
If the Power Goes Out:
- A full refrigerator or freezer will stay cool longer than one with space inside. If you’re unable to fill your fridge or freezer, group foods and items closely together to help insulate them. Place meats, poultry and fish to one side to protect other foods from contamination and spoilage.
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. If you do have to open the units, do so knowing what you’re looking for and do it quickly.
- If needed, 50 pounds of dry ice should keep a fully stocked 18-cubic-foot freezer cold for up to 2-days.
If the Power Comes Back:
- Discard any perishable food (dairy, meat, poultry, sea food, eggs, leftovers) if the temperatures reached above 40° for two or more hours.
- Throw out any foods that have an unusual odor, color, texture or if they feel warm to the touch. If you have doubts about something, it’s safer to throw it out. NEVER try taste-testing things… that could easily put you in a dangerous and potentially deadly situation.
- Frozen food is safe to re-freeze or use if it still has ice crystals or maintained a temperature at or below 40°F.
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