Here’s how to keep the food in your fridge if the power goes out

If you live in the central US or mid-Atlantic, you may soon be affected a major winter storm and a polar vortex. And when harsh winter weather causes a power outage, one of your first concerns might be the food in your refrigerator. Although a sudden power outage can put your food at risk, you don’t have to let it go to waste: a little preparation can help keep your food safe and fresh until power is restored.

Losing a fridge full of food is costly, inconvenient and can be dangerous if rations run low and you can’t manage to buy more. Although you may not be able to save everything depending on how long the outage lasts, there are ways to prevent most of your perishable goods from spoiling if the refrigerator stops running.

Read on to learn how to save your refrigerator’s food in the event of a power outage.

You can find more tips on power outages here Everything you need to know about home generatorsand consider whether a Home battery backup might be a better option.

Make a plan to save your food before a power outage occurs

Before a power outage occurs, it’s best to take a few steps to prepare in case you need to rescue your food. The Recommendation from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is to have the following items on hand:

• Device thermometer for both your fridge and freezer, so you can monitor if temperatures rise and you need to start removing food. The temperature in the refrigerator should not exceed 40 degrees Fahrenheit and in the freezer it should not exceed 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
• A cooler And frozen gel packsin case you need to remove food from the refrigerator to keep it cold.
• Dry ice or block ice to keep food cold in the refrigerator if you are worried the power will be out for an extended period of time.

Read more: Best coolers for 2022

Do this first to store your food if the power goes out

If there is a power outage, keep your fridge and freezer doors closed – don’t open them unless absolutely necessary, and even then, try to do so quickly to keep the cold air from escaping let. If the doors are left closed, your food can stay safe for up to four hours in the refrigerator, 48 hours in a full freezer, and 24 hours in a half-full freezer, according to the CDC.

Once you’ve passed the four-hour mark (or if you notice that the temperature in the refrigerator has risen above 40 degrees F) and the power is still out, it’s time to remove food from the refrigerator. If any perishable foods remain in the refrigerator afterward, you must throw them all away.

The exception here would be if you have dry ice. You can place the dry ice on the top shelf of your freezer and the bottom shelf of your refrigerator and it will keep your perishable goods cold. You need approx 3 pounds of dry ice per cubic foot of freezer spacewhich should keep food cold for at least two days. Just make sure you are aware of it how to handle dry ice safely before using it.

Divide your foods into two groups

First, prepare two piles: foods that absolutely need to be kept cool and foods that are safe to leave on the counter until the power comes back on.

Food that doesn’t need to be kept cold

The following foods can be safely stored outside the refrigerator:

• Butter (for 1-2 days)
• Peanut butter
• Most cooking oils, except nut oils
• Herbs
• potatoes
• Most fruits and vegetables
• Bread
• Coffee
• Honey
• Ketchup, mustard and hot sauce

Foods that need to be kept cold

The following foods must be stored at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower to prevent bacterial growth and spoilage:

• Dairy products (cheese, milk, whipped cream, sour cream)
• Eggs
• Meat, poultry and fish (cooked or uncooked)
• Cut fruits and vegetables
• leftovers

How to keep your perishable foods cold without a refrigerator

Once you have your pile of perishable food together, it’s time to get out your cooler and ice packs. Place a layer of frozen food on the bottom. Then place a layer of food from the refrigerator on top. Cover it with another layer of frozen food. If you don’t have ice or ice packs, go to the store and purchase some if it’s safe to do so.

Place ice or ice packs around the food in the cooler – don’t just throw everything on top or bottom. By distributing the ice, the temperature of the food stays more even. Move your refrigerator thermometer into the cooler to keep an eye on the temperature.

If you don’t have a cooler, you can use your freezer instead – it’s insulated and will keep your food cold as long as you keep the door closed and keep a fresh supply of ice inside. To prevent melting ice from turning your freezer into a pond, put ice in bowls and place them around the food.

You should never taste food to see if it’s spoiled — if in doubt, throw it away, advises the CDC. Immediately throw away any food with unusual smells, colors, or textures. When it comes to frozen foods, you can safely refreeze or cook thawed frozen foods that are at 40°F or below or still contain ice crystals.

For more tips on preparing for natural disasters, click here how to pack an emergency bagAnd How to Recover Important Documents After a Natural Disaster.