Power outages can wreak havoc with food stores. It is a tragedy to throw out food that has been stored in a freezer or refrigerator and keeping this food cold might be key to your survival over a few days.
Food that is too warm is not safe to eat. Check to ensure that your freezer temperature is set below 0 degrees Fahrenheit and that the refrigerator is below 40 degrees Fare height. Freezers and fridges that are not opened too frequently can stay quit cold. A thermometer can tell you if they are keeping food cold enough and whether or not it is safe to eat.
Always freeze containers of water and keep them in your freezer to help keep it cold in the event of a power outage. The melting ice can also supply drinking water if necessary. It also helps to refrigerator milk and juice the same way for the same purpose.
If the power goes up group all foods together. This helps them stay colder longer. If the power is out for more than four hours have coolers on hand in which to store food and ice. Freeze gel packs in advance for use in coolers.
A full freezer can keep cold for a bout 48 hours if the door is not opened. If it is available you can buy dry or block ice to keep the freezer cold for a few days. One fifty-pound block of ice can keep an 18 cubic foot freezer cold for two days.
If you do eat any food that has been thawed then make sure that it is thoroughly cooked to prevent any food-borne bacteria from making anyone sick. Make sure that these foods are washed thoroughly as well. This mainly applies to pasta, vegetables and grains and not so much to eggs, meats and fish. These things go bad quite quickly and may not be suitable to eat if partially thawed.
Once power is restored you might have to still determine the safety of the food. If the freezer thermometer reads forty degrees Fahrenheit or below then you may still refreeze the food. If the food still contains ice crystals it is also usually still okay to refreeze or cook.
Make sure that you discard any perishable food. This is usually food that has been kept above 40 degrees for two hours or more. Keep in mind that eggs, milk, poultry, seafood and meat can cause fatal illness even after it is thoroughly cooked.