Food-saving checklist for whenever the power goes out

Illustration by Kelly Brant
Illustration by Kelly Brant

Storms, accidents, construction, forgetting to pay the bill — there are numerous reasons one might come home to a house with no electricity.

And no electricity means refrigerators and freezers full of food are not working.

If you find yourself without power, here's what you need to know and what to do.

The first rule to remember is "when in doubt, throw it out." And also, never ever taste food to determine if it's OK. If your power was out for just a few hours and you didn't open the refrigerator or freezer, chances are the food is OK.

A refrigerator should keep food cold for six hours and a half-full freezer 24 hours (48 hours if the freezer is full) if you don't open the doors, according to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Here's a clip-and-save checklist gleaned from www.fsis.usda.gov:

• Try not to open the refrigerator and freezer doors (doing so lets the cold air escape).

• If you know the power will be out for an extended period, get ice or dry ice to keep food cold. Fifty pounds of dry ice, the FDA says, should hold an 18-cubic-foot freezer for 2 days. Take care when handling dry ice, don't handle it with bare hands or place it directly on food.

• Use a refrigerator-freezer thermometer to check the temperature. In either the refrigerator or freezer, if the temperature is 40 degrees or below, the food is safe.

• Check the packages. If food still contains ice crystals or is at 40 degrees or below when checked with a food thermometer, you can refreeze it, but the quality may not be the same.

• Group foods together in the freezer to help them stay cold longer.

• Keep food on ice in coolers. In winter, don't place it outside even in below-freezing temperatures. This could expose it to animals and other unsanitary conditions.

FOODS TO TOSS

Bacteria can grow in foods that have been above 40 degrees for two hours or more. Discard the following if your refrigerator has been without power for more than 4 hours:

• Raw, cooked or leftover meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, yogurt, most eggs, leftovers, hot dogs, bacon, lunch meats, pizza, shredded cheeses, casseroles, pasta and pasta sauces, cut fruits and vegetables.

• Cream- and dairy-based salad dressings, sauces, dips and soups.

• Opened mayonnaise, tartar sauce and horseradish if they were held above 50 degrees for longer than eight hours.

• Discard any foods that may have become contaminated by juices dripping from raw meat, poultry, or fish.

• Fruits and vegetables that are slimy or show signs of spoilage.

FOODS TO KEEP

• Condiments, such as ketchup, mustard, jelly, jams, soy sauce and bottled marinade. Typically these have high salt and sugar content that can act as a preservative. Keep in mind jams and jellies can grow mold after three or four days.

• Butter/margarine.

• Hard and processed cheese are typically OK.

• Foods that don't actually require refrigeration like fresh herbs, spices, flour and nuts.

• Fresh bread and rolls.

• Whole fruits and vegetables that show no signs of decay.

HOW TO CLEAN

Once the power is restored, here's how to care for the inside of your refrigerator or freezer and rid them of any odors.

• Dispose of any spoiled or questionable food.

• Remove shelves, crispers and ice trays. Wash them thoroughly with hot water and detergent. Then rinse with a sanitizing solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of tap water.

• Wash the interior of the refrigerator and freezer, including the door and gaskets, with hot water and baking soda. Rinse with a sanitizing solution.

• Leave the door open for about 15 minutes.

Here's what to do if there is still an odor:

• Wipe the inside of the unit with equal parts of vinegar and water to destroy mildew.

• Leave the door open and allow to air out for several days.

• Sprinkle fresh coffee grounds, activated charcoal or baking soda loosely in a large, shallow container in the bottom of the unit.

Food on 09/04/2019

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