Continuing the Food Safety theme I started in last weeks’ column I want to address a question I receive when the power goes off. “Can the food in my refrigerator and freezer be saved?” Here are some great tips to tuck in a drawer if you need them someday.
• Never taste a food to determine its safety!
• 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 degrees 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 degrees 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.
Whenever there is a question that raises doubt and you don’t know how long the power was out, I consistently give this advice: “When in doubt, throw it out.” It may seem wasteful to throw out food that may appear to be ok, but it just isn’t worth it to make you or a family member ill.
For additional information about food safety contact me at (620)793-1910 or dkrug@ksu.edu.
Donna Krug is the Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Barton County