When the electric goes out, one of my first concerns is keeping my food safe. I don’t like throwing food away, so keeping it at the proper temperature is important. In the winter, it can be relatively easy to keep food safe during a long power outage: if it is colder than 41 degrees Fahrenheit outside, simply pack your refrigerated items in a container (for protection from the elements and animals) to set outside in a shady place. However, summertime food safety becomes a bit trickier.
Fortunately, a full refrigerator will remain maintain food safely for four hours if the doors stay closed. Resist the urge to continuously check the food! This will only allow cold air out and warm air in. A full freezer can keep foods frozen for 48 hours; a half-full freezer for 24 hours. Packing foods closely together will help them remain frozen longer.
If the power will be out longer than the appliance can keep food safe, buy bags of ice and use them to fill the empty places in your refrigerator or freezer. Buying ice will be cheaper than replacing food that would otherwise spoil. Furthermore, if your water source is cut off during the power outage, the melting ice can supply additional drinking water.
Once the power is turned back on, check your food’s temperature using a food thermometer. If it is less than 41 degrees, it is safe to re-freeze, cook, or refrigerate. If the food has been warmer than 41 degrees for more than two hours, discard it. Otherwise, harmful bacteria that can make you sick may be present in the food and will not necessarily be killed by cooking.
An important note to mention is the type of food you should be most concerned with keeping cold during a power outage. Meats, poultry, fish, raw eggs, dairy products, and leftovers are the biggest concern. Most condiments such as ketchup, mustard, and margarine (but not real butter) will be fine; they are refrigerated more for quality than for safety reasons. Uncut fruit and vegetables will also be safe to eat after a power outage and do not need to be discarded. Read container labels to help you decide what needs to be tossed and what can be kept.
If you have any questions regarding the safety of your food after a power outage, feel free to call the Howard County Health Department between 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 456-2403 and select the option for the Environmental Division.