A power outage can be a significant inconvenience. From being unable to watch your favorite show to having all your food go bad in the refrigerator, an unexpected power outage can throw a wrench in your plans. Though they are unpredictable, ensuring your food remains safe during an outage is crucial. Here are six tips for keeping food fresh in the refrigerator after a power outage.
Buy Dry or Block Ice
Purchase dry or block ice to keep your food from spoiling too quickly. Place these items inside your refrigerator or freezer to maintain its temperature until power is restored. You should also check regularly on any frozen foods in your freezer. If they start thawing, transfer them immediately into a cooler with additional dry or block ice so they don’t spoil.
Throw Out Perishable Food
Throw out any perishable items left in the refrigerator for more than four hours, even if they still look safe. It is also essential to check for any food partially cooked or left out before the power outage. If you dined out before the outage, throwing out any leftovers is also best. To reduce waste, you can move perishable food to a cooler with ice packs or store it in an insulated bag with cold packs to keep the food safe.
Use A Solar Generator
A portable solar generator is a great way to keep your refrigerator running during an outage. This generator will provide energy for appliances and lights so you can continue living normally even when the electricity is out for an extended period. Solar portable power station also come in various sizes and are made to be transported easily if needed.
Keeping Appliance Thermometers Inside Your Refrigerator
Appliance thermometers are essential tools when dealing with prolonged power outages. Not only do they alert you when temperatures inside your refrigerator start rising above their recommended levels which indicates that food may be going bad, but they also allow you to monitor temperatures inside both your fridge and freezer throughout an extended blackout period so that you know exactly how long certain items can safely remain stored before needing disposal or transfer elsewhere for safekeeping.
Transfer Items From Your Refrigerator to Your Freezer
If you have items in your refrigerator that need cooling quickly during an outage, consider transferring them over to your freezer instead since this will help them stay colder longer due to the lower temperatures inside freezers compared with refrigerators. However, ensure only items meant for freezing get transferred over since some foods, such as fruits and vegetables, cannot handle extremely cold temperatures without becoming damaged or spoiled.
Keep The Door Closed
Keeping your fridge door closed as much as possible during an outage can make all the difference in preserving the temperature and keeping food fresh. When you open it, only do so briefly so the cold air stays put and the warm air remains out. Think of it as a race against time: If you open the door while the power is out, try to get what you need quickly so that all your food gets stored properly until power is restored. Doing this ensures no cold air escapes and no warm air sneaks in.
Power outages can be a major inconvenience, but they don’t have to ruin your food. Following the tips outlined above, you can keep your food fresh and safe during an outage. It is also paramount to stay informed about weather events in your area to prepare you for any potential power disruptions.