Safe Food Handling During Power Outages

Safe Food Handling During Power Outages
http://web.extension.illinois.edu/disaster/facts/food.html



The safety of food may be a problem following any storm where electricity
has been interrupted for an extended period of time. The following information is intended to help you prepare ahead for an emergency and judge the safety of your food after a power outage.


Prepare Ahead for a Power Outage


Keep an appliance thermometer in your refrigerator and freezer. In case of a power outage, the thermometers will help you determine the safety of your food. Freezers should be held at 0 ˚F (Fahrenheit) or below and refrigerators at 40 ˚F or below.

* Plan ahead and know where ice and dry ice can be purchased.
* Have coolers on hand to keep refrigerated food cold if the power will be out for more than 4 hours.
* Purchase or make ice and store in the freezer for use in a cooler. Freeze gel packs ahead of time for use in coolers.
* To help food stay cold longer, group food together in the freezer.


Handling Food Safely During a Power Outage

As long as power is interrupted, keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. If unopened, the refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about four hours. Food in most full freezers will be safe for about two days (48 hours) and half-full freezers about one day (24 hours). If your freezer is not full, group packages together so they form an "igloo" protecting each other.


If the power outage is for several days, it is safest to move food to a refrigerator or freezer that is operating at a safe temperature. To move food safely, wrap it in newspapers, blankets, or towels or place in coolers.


If you cannot relocate food, obtain ice or dry ice to assist in keeping food frozen. Fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic-foot freezer for two days. Covering the freezer with blankets or quilts will also aid in keeping cold air inside.




Determining Food Safety after a Power Outage


As soon as power is restored, check the temperature of the freezer and the refrigerator 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 you do not have a thermometer, each food item will have to be separately evaluated to determine if it can be safely kept. Frozen raw meats and poultry can usually be refrozen without too much quality loss. Frozen prepared foods, vegetables and fruits can normally be refrozen, but there may be some quality loss. Fruits and fruit juices can be refrozen with minimal quality loss. Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, leftovers, and deli items after four hours without power. For specific items, refer to the When to Save and Throw out Foods refrigerator and freezer charts.


Do not rely on the appearance or odor of a food to determine if it safe. Never taste food to determine if it is safe. When in doubt, it is usually best to throw it out.