Severe weather events like thunderstorms and tornadoes can bring down power lines in a neighborhood or even entire grids of a city. When the power goes out, the clock starts ticking on the viability of perishable foods in the refrigerator and freezer.
According to the USDA, bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter can grow within minutes of food entering the “Danger Zone” – the range of temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees F. The insulation in freezers and refrigerators are your best allies during a power failure, as long as you don’t subvert them.
Ready.gov provides the following tips to manage food when the power goes out:
- Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
- The refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours if it is unopened.
- Refrigerated or frozen foods should be kept at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below for proper food storage.
- Use a refrigerator thermometer to check temperature.
- Refrigerated food should be safe as long as the power was out for no more than four hours (if refrigerator door remains closed)
- Discard any perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs or leftovers that have been above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for two hours or more.
By: Ashley Svaty
