Can the weather get any crazier? When we do have crazy weather there is always a chance we may have a power outage. Karen Blakeslee, K-State Research and Extension Food Safety Specialist, shares these important tips:
Keep the freezer full to keep foods frozen longer. During a power outage, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. A full freezer will hold temperature about 48 hours.
• The refrigerator will keep food safe for up to 4 hours. If the power is off longer, you can transfer food to a cooler and fill with ice or frozen gel packs. Make sure there is enough ice to keep food in the cooler at 40°F or below. Add more ice to the cooler as it begins to melt.
• A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full).
• Obtain dry ice or block ice if your power is going to be out for a prolonged period. Fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic-foot freezer for 2 days. (Caution: Do not touch dry ice with bare hands or place it in direct contact with food.)
• In freezers, food in the front, in the door, or in small, thin packages will defrost faster than large, thick items or food in the back or bottom of the unit.
After a Power Outage, never taste food to determine its safety. When In Doubt, Throw It Out! Follow these tips for unsafe foods from the refrigerator:
• Discard the following if your refrigerator has been without power for more than 4 hours: raw, cooked, or leftover meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and egg substitutes; luncheon meat and hot dogs; casseroles, soups, stews, and pizza; mixed salads (i.e., chicken, tuna, macaroni, potato); gravy and stuffing; milk, cream, yogurt, sour cream, and soft cheeses; cut fruits and vegetables (fresh); cooked vegetables; fruit and vegetable juices (opened); creamy-based salad dressing; batters and doughs (i.e., pancake batter, cookie dough); custard, chiffon, or cheese pies; cream-filled pastries; and garlic stored in oil.
• Discard opened mayonnaise, tartar sauce, and horseradish if they were held above 50 °F for over 8 hours.
• Discard any foods like bread or salad greens that may have become contaminated by juices dripping from raw meat, poultry, or fish.
• In general, if any food has an unusual odor, color, or texture, throw it out.
These are Safe-to-Eat Foods:
• High-acid foods such as mustard, ketchup, relishes, pickles, non-creamy salad dressings, jams, and jellies; however, they may spoil sooner.
• Foods that don’t actually require refrigeration. These foods may be used unless they turn moldy or have an unusual odor; whole fruits and vegetables (fresh); fruit and vegetable juices (unopened); dried fruits and coconut; baked goods such as fruit pies, bread, rolls, muffins, and cakes (except those with cream cheese frosting or cream fillings); hard and processed cheeses; butter and margarine; fresh herbs and spices; flour; and nuts
Learn more about power outage food safety at www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/topics/disaster.html
Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at bunruh@ksu.edu.
