As we enter the stormy fall and winter, we’re bound to have
some power outages. So when the power
goes out and your refrigerator isn't cooling, what should you do?
First, call the power company and find out how long the
power will be out. If the power outage
is less than 24 hours:
Keep the doors shut on both the refrigerator and freezer
compartments to keep food cold or frozen. If you’re experiencing a refrigerator
power outage for more than 2 hours, you might want to pack dairy and meats into
coolers filled with ice, says the CDC.
If the power will be out for more than 24 hours:
Add 2 lbs of dry ice in the freezer for every cubic foot of
freezer space, which will keep the food frozen for two to four days. Otherwise,
you’re going to have to eat all that perishable food.
A full freezer stays cold longer than a partially filled one
and a freezer full of meat stays cold longer than a freezer full of baked
goods. A half-full freezer will keep food safe for 24 hours, and a full freezer
will keep food safe for 48 hours, according to the CDC.
If food contains ice crystals, you can refreeze it, although
the quality and flavor may be affected. Test meats to ensure the temperature hasn't risen to 40 degrees. Use your gut. If it looks like it’s in rough shape,
toss it.
