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Keeping Food Safe During a Power Outage

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee

Power outages happen for various reasons. Severe weather can certainly be a top cause. The challenge is deciding what food is safe to keep or what should be tossed.

First of all, some general guidelines:

  • Keep the appliance doors closed to keep the appliance cold as long as possible.
  • Never taste food to determine its safety after a power outage.
  • Keep an appliance thermometer inside the refrigerator and freezer.
  • Discard any perishable foods, such as meat, poultry, milk, fish, eggs, deli items or leftovers after 4 hours without refrigeration.
  • Frozen foods that contain ice crystals or are still below 40°F can be saved.

Here are some resources to help guide you to make safe choices:

More information can be found at the KSRE Extension Food Safety website on Disasters and Power Outages.

Power outage CDC

Safety of Canned Foods that Freeze in Winter

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee

power outageRecent cold weather has created challenges for all of us. Power outages can lead to many problems. If you have canned foods, either home canned or commercially canned, in a storage location that froze, what can you do?

Check for broken seals or seams in metal cans or broken glass in home canned foods due to expansion of the food and liquid inside the container. If all are intact, they can be saved. Thaw gradually and store at room temperature.

For commecially canned foods, if seams are broken, that can lead to contamination and be unsafe to eat. Discard these cans.

For home canned foods, discard broken glass containers. If the lid became unsealed, and the jar thawed to room temperature, discard these too.

If a glass jar became unsealed but is still frozen, this can be safely used immediately or transfered to a new container and stored in the refrigerator or freezer.

During cold weather, wrap jars or cans in paper and cover with blankets to insulate them. Another option for vulnerable storage locations is to prop open pantry or cupboard doors to allow warm air inside.

For more information on food safety during power outages, see https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/topics/disaster.html.

Source: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/food/preservation/safety-canned-food-freezes

Removing Odors from Refrigerators and Freezers

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee
refrigerator
Monitor temperatures with an appliance thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer.
Photo: USDA Flickr

As winter approaches, so does the possibility of power outages. Refrigerators and freezers can hold cold temperatures for a short amount of time. But if power outages linger, food can become unsafe, spoil and can leave residual odors.

Food odors can be hard to remove. Dispose any spoiled or questionable food. Remove shelves, drawers, and ice trays to wash in hot soapy water. Rinse with a bleach sanitizer of one tablespoon bleach per gallon water. Wash the appliance interior with a mix of hot water and baking soda, then sanitize. Leave the door open to air dry. These steps may need to be repeated several times. Some other tips to remove odors are on the USDA website.

If meat juice or spoiled food has lingered in an appliance, it may have seeped into the insulation. At this point, the appliance may need to be discarded. Remove the door, if possible, or lock it in some manner to make it child proof.

 

Food Prep When the Power Goes Out

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee

grill burgerSpring is just about here which brings warmer weather as well as severe weather. If you lose power, handling food can be tricky. If you don’t have a generator, then consider these options to prepare food without power from University of Minnesota Extension.

Keep a food thermometer handy. Remember these three temperatures when cooking meats: 145° for steaks, roasts, chops; 160°F for ground meat; and 165°F for all poultry. If you have limited fuel for cooking, choose quick-cooking foods to reserve fuel.

Prepare one meal at a time so there are no leftovers. Don’t leave food sit at room temperature or in warm environments for more than two hours as this can lead to bacterial growth.

There are options to cook food. A fireplace is handy, but do not use charcoal in a fireplace as it can emit carbon monoxide. Get outdoors and use a camp stove, charcoal grill or gas grill.

Stock up on foods that do not require any cooking or refrigeration. Examples include peanut butter, canned meats, whole grain chips or crackers, fresh fruit, canned fruit, dried fruit, and many others. Don’t forget your pets! They also need nourishment in an emergency.

Handwashing is still important! Use bottled water and soap if running water is not available. Use disposable utensils and plates for easy clean up. Heat water on the outdoor grill to wash other items.

For more information on food safety during a power outage, see www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/topics/disaster.html

 

Cleaning a Smelly Fridge

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee
refrigerator
Photo: Canva.com

Power outages can lead to spoiled food in the refrigerator or freezer. These spoiled foods lead to smelly odors.

Discard the spoiled food. Wash shelves and drawers in hot water and soap. Rinse with a solution of one tablespoon bleach in one gallon water. Wipe appliance interior, door and gasket with hot water and baking soda. Rinse with the bleach solution. Leave the door open to air dry at least 15 minutes or more. Remember to keep small children away so they don’t get trapped inside.

Learn more tips from the USDA Emergencies and Food Safety resources. And remember, with any questionable food, when in doubt, throw it out!

 

Keep or Toss? Food Safety After Power Outage

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee

Winter weather is approaching, so here are some reminders to keep food safe during a power outage.

Plan now! Keep an appliance thermometer inside the refrigerator and freezer. Keep the freezer full to keep foods frozen longer. Freeze refrigerated foods you don’t need right away.

During a power outage, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. A full freezer will hold temperature about 48 hours.

After a power outage, when in doubt, throw it out! Some foods can be saved, others should not be used.

Never taste food to determine its safety! Learn more about power outage food safety at www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/topics/disaster.html.

Can You Store Food in the Snow?

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee

While storing food outside in the snow may work in a pinch, long term storage is not advised.

Placing food in the snow will not necessarily protect it. Frozen food can thaw when exposed to the sun’s rays even when the temperature is very cold. Food may become too warm and foodborne bacteria could grow. The outside temperature can vary hour by hour and the temperature outside will not protect refrigerated and frozen food. Additionally, perishable items could be exposed to unsanitary conditions or to animals. Animals may harbor bacteria or disease; never consume food that has come in contact with an animal.

Power outages and other disasters can happen any time of year. See Disasters and Power Outages at K-State Research and Extension Food Safety website.

 

Can Food Be Stored in the Snow?

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee

SnowflakesPower outages are bound to happen at some point. During the winter, ice and snow can cause power outages for days. Can food be stored outside in the snow?

Keep in mind that a full freezer of food usually will keep about two days, if the door is kept shut. A half-full freezer will stay cold enough about a day. If you find that the power will be out longer, you may need to resort to other methods to preserve your frozen food. If it’s short-term, the best thing is to keep the freezer closed.

It’s tempting to use our giant outdoor “walk-in freezer” to store food, but storing food outside is not recommended by the USDA due to potential variable temperatures, unsanitary outdoor conditions and/or disturbances by animals. There can be temperature fluctuations from the sun’s rays, which could thaw the food.

Depending on the outdoor temperature, you may be able to store the food in impermeable covered plastic containers in an unheated garage or other place where the food won’t be disturbed. Monitor the temperature and the state of the food.

Source: http://bit.ly/2hut8QO

 

When the Power Goes Out, Can Food Be Saved?

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee
  • Never taste a food to determine its safety!plug
  • Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature.
  • The refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full and the door remains closed).
  • Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40 °F or below.
  • Obtain block ice or dry ice to keep your refrigerator and freezer as cold as possible if the power is going to be out for a prolonged period of time. Fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic-foot full freezer for 2 days.
  • If the power has been out for several days, then check the temperature of the freezer with an appliance thermometer or food thermometer. If the food still contains ice crystals or is at 40 °F or below, the food is safe.
  • If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, then check each package of food to determine its safety. If the food still contains ice crystals, the food is safe.
  • Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, leftovers, and deli items after 4 hours without power.

When in Doubt, Throw it Out!

www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/topics/disaster.html

 

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