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OLATHE, Kan. – When the power goes out, many people have questions about the food in their refrigerators and freezers.
With the threat of ice storms and downed power lines upon us, knowing how to determine if food is safe and how to keep food safe will help minimize the potential loss of food and reduce the risk of food-borne illness.
“I get a lot of phone calls that have personal stories behind the food in people’s freezers” said Nichole Burnett, Family and Consumer Sciences agent for the Johnson County K-State Research and Extension. “For example, I’ve gotten two different calls regarding fish brought home from trips. One was a prize catch from Canada. The other was an expensive purchase in Alaska. Both callers wanted to know if they could keep their fish. Unfortunately, I had to tell them both that the power had been out too long and that they had to discard the fish.”
In the event of a power failure, keep the doors to refrigerators and freezers closed. This will help keep food cold longer. Food in freezers can stay frozen or at least cold for 1-2 days, depending on how full it is and how often it is opened.
Dry ice can be placed in a freezer on boards or heavy paper on top of packages to keep temperatures below freezing. Allow 2.5 to 3 pounds of dry ice per cubic foot of space. More will be needed in an upright freezer because dry ice should be placed on each shelf. Dry ice can cause burns. Don’t handle it with bare hands.
According to Karen Blakeslee, rapid response coordinator for the Food Science Institute at Kansas Sate University, during power outages due to extreme winter weather, Mother Nature can actually be tapped to help save food stored in the refrigerator section. “Just as long as the outdoor temperatures are below 40 degrees, ideally somewhere between 35-37 degrees, food items from the fridge can be placed in a ‘critter-proof’ container and kept outside,” Blakeslee said. She suggested using ice chests, emphasizing that they be kept animal-proofed. Snow can be placed in the chests to help keep items cold. “Items from the freezer can also be stored outside, but they will not stay rock hard unless the outside temperature is zero,” she added.
Once the power is restored, you will need to evaluate the safety of the food. If an appliance thermometer was kept in the freezer, read the temperature when the power comes back on. If the thermometer stored in the freezer reads 40º F or below, the food is safe and may be refrozen. If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, check each package of food to determine safety. You can not rely on appearance or odor. If the food still contains ice crystals or is 40º F or below, it is safe to refreeze or cook.
Frozen or refrigerated foods warmed to above 40º Fahrenheit for over two hours may not be safe to eat. Frozen foods that have thawed completely and warmed to temperatures above 40º F for less than two hours should be cooked or eaten immediately or discarded. After cooking, items can be refrozen. Partially thawed frozen foods with ice crystals may be safely refrozen. However, the texture will not be as good on items such as breaded seafood or fruits and vegetables.
Breads can be refrozen as well as waffles and other breakfast items that are still at or below 40º F. Do not refreeze frozen dinners that have thawed. Discard any meat that has a questionable odor or has reached 40º F for two hours.
Refrigerated food should be safe as long as the power is out for no longer than 4 hours. Keep the door closed as much as possible. Discard any perishable food (such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs or leftovers) that has been above 40º F for two hours. Never taste food to determine safety. When in doubt, throw it out!
Plan ahead in case your freezer or refrigerator stops. Locate a source of dry ice. During seasons when power failures are frequent, set the freezer to run between -10°F and -20°F. The colder the food, the more slowly it thaws. Buy an appliance thermometer so you know what the temperature is at all times but especially when the power goes out!
Source: Kansas State Research and Extension
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