If you live in the mid-US or mid-Atlantic regions, you may soon experience a major winter storm and polar vortex. And if harsh winter weather causes a power outage, one of your first concerns may be the food in your fridge. While a sudden power outage can put your food at risk, you don’t have to let it go to waste: A little preparation can help keep your food safe and fresh until power returns.
Losing a fridge full of food is expensive, inconvenient and can be dangerous if you run out of rations and can’t buy more. While you may not be able to save everything, depending on the length of the outage, there are ways to prevent the destruction of most of your perishables when the refrigerator stops working.
Read on to learn how to save food in the fridge in case of a power outage.
For more power outage tips, learn everything you need to know about home generators and consider whether a home battery backup might be a better option.
Make a plan to save food before the power goes out
Before you face a power outage, it’s best to take a few steps to prepare in case you need to store food. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends having the following items on hand:
- Thermometer device for both your fridge and freezer so you can monitor if their temperature rises and you need to start removing food. The refrigerator should not rise above 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer should not rise above 0 degrees F.
- HAS cooler and frozen gel packsin case you need to take food out of the fridge to keep it cold.
- Dry ice or block the ice to keep the food in the fridge cold if you think it will be without power for a long time.
Read more: The best coolers for 2022
Do this first to save food when the power goes out
When there is a blackout, keep the fridge and freezer doors closed – don’t open them unless you absolutely need to, and even then try to do it quickly so you don’t let the cold air out. If the door remains closed, your food can stay safe for up to four hours in the refrigerator, 48 hours in a full freezer, and 24 hours in a half-full freezer, according to the CDC.
Once you’ve passed the four-hour mark (or if you see the temperature inside the fridge have risen above 40 degrees F) and the power is still off, it’s time to start removing food from the fridge. If there is any perishable food left in the fridge after this point, you will need to throw it all away.
The exception would be if you have dry ice. You can place dry ice on the top shelf of the freezer and the bottom shelf of the refrigerator and it will keep your perishables cool. You need about 3 pounds of dry ice per cubic foot of freezer space, which should keep food cold for at least two days. Make sure you know how to handle dry ice safely before using it.
If the power is out for more than four hours, you’ll probably want to move your perishables to the refrigerator.
Divide the food into two groups
First, you make two batteries: Food that absolutely must be kept cold, and food that can be safely left on the counter until the power comes back on.
Food that does not need to be kept cold
The following foods can be stored safely outside the refrigerator:
- Butter (1-2 days)
- Peanut butter
- Most cooking oils, with the exception of nut oils
- Herbs
- Potatoes
- Most fruits and vegetables
- Bread
- Coffee
- Copper
- Ketchup, mustard and hot sauce
Food that needs to be kept cold
The following foods must be stored at or below 40 degrees F to prevent bacterial growth and spoilage:
- Dairy products (cheese, milk, whipped cream, sour cream)
- Egg
- Meat, poultry and fish (cooked or uncooked)
- Cut fruits and vegetables
- Leftovers
How to keep perishable food in the cold without a refrigerator
Once you have your pile of perishable food, it’s time to get out the cooler and ice packs. Place a layer of frozen food on the bottom. Then place a layer of food from the fridge on top of this layer. Top with another layer of frozen food. If you don’t have any ice or ice packs, go to the store and buy some if it’s safe to do so.
Layer ice or ice packs around the food in the fridge – don’t just throw everything up or down. By spreading out the ice, the food will maintain a more consistent temperature. Move the refrigerator thermometer inside the cooler to monitor the temperature.
If you don’t have a fridge, you can use a freezer instead – it’s insulated and will keep your food cold as long as you keep the door closed and have a fresh supply of ice in it. To prevent the melting ice from becoming a pool, put ice in bowls and place them around the food.
You should never taste food to see if it’s gone bad — if in doubt, throw it out, the CDC advises. Throw away any food with unusual smells, colors or textures immediately. For frozen foods, you can safely refreeze or cook thawed frozen foods that are 40 degrees F or below or that still contain ice crystals.
More tips on how to prepare for natural disasters can be found here how to pack an emergency bagand how to recover important documents after a natural disaster.