What should I do to keep refrigerated and frozen foods safe during a power failure?

Answer 1

If it's just a normal power outage, leave the refridgerator and freezer closed. For typical power outages, they are capable of maintaining a steady temperature inside as long as you aren't opening the doors.

For long periods, like after a major natural disaster, you should have a generator to keep it running.

Answer 2

KEEP THE FREEZER DOOR CLOSED. Keep what cold air you have inside. Don't open the door any more than necessary. You'll be relieved to know that a full freezer will stay at freezing temperatures about 2 days; a half-full freezer about 1 day. If your freezer is not full, group packages so they form an "igloo" to protect each other. Place them to one side or on a tray so that if they begin thawing, their juices won't get on other food. And, if you think power will be out for several days, try to find some dry ice. Although dry ice can be used in the refrigerator, block ice is better. You can put it in the refrigerator's freezer unit along with your refrigerated perishables such as meat, poultry, and dairy items. EVEN IF FOOD HAS STARTED TO THAW, SOME FOODS CAN BE SAFELY KEPT. The foods in your freezer that partially or completely thaw before power is restored may be safely refrozen if they still contain ice crystals or are 40 °F or below. You will have to evaluate each item separately. Generally, be very careful with meat and poultry products or any food containing milk, cream, sour cream, or soft cheese. When in doubt, throw them out. In general, refrigerated items should be safe as long as power is out no more than 4 hours. Keep the door closed as much as possible. Discard any perishable foods (such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers) that have been above 40 °F for 2 hours or more, and any food that has an unusual odor, color, or texture, or feels warm to the touch. KEEP AN APPLIANCE THERMOMETER IN THE REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER AT ALL TIMES. This will remove the guesswork of just how cold the unit is because it will give you the exact temperature. The key to determining the safety of foods in the refrigerator and freezer is knowing how cold they are. The refrigerator temperature should be 40 °F or below; the freezer, 0 °F or lower. More detailed information, along with a chart that tells which foods may be saved and which should be thrown out, may be found in Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency.

Answer 3

Nothing much you can do but keep the fridge door shut. If the power is off to long then some food items in the fridge would have to be binned.
Regarding the freezer that should stay frozen for a lot longer as long you do not keep opening the door.
You could try insulating it a bit more by filling with cardboard, newspapers or polystyrene.

Answer 4

Get a few coolers with bags of ice and put the refrigerated items in one cooler and put the frozen in another until the power is restored or get a generator that supplies the electrical load and run a few leads to the refrigerator

Answer 5

If it's a short time, don't fret. If you know it's going to last more than 24hrs, take the ice bucket from your freezer and put it in your fridge. The ice will melt, but will help keep the fridge cold. Your frozen items will be okay for a little bit. You may want to run out and get some bags of ice for a cooler.

Answer 6

I have two generator for just that purpose

The cost of these generator was $350 and $900 but they can range from $200 and up. I bought my first one as a primary source for my place in the country but have found it to be very useful during power outages, Run a light of two also along with the TV or radio

Answer 7

1. leave the doors closed the seal will help keep everything cold.
2. put blankets over the freezer it helps from letting cold escape.
3.In cases of long power failure pack food into camping coolers.
If it is winter and you live in a cold environment you may be okay longer if your freezer is in the garage or basement.

Answer 8

Your frozen and chilled goods are fine in your fridge and freezer for 24 hours. You just need to limit the amount of times you open the doors as this allows the temperature to rise significantly each time you do so.

Answer 9

refrigerator can maintain the tempreature for quiet some time even in power failure.so if the power is gone.then dont keep on opening and closing the door.it will increse the temp inside
if power failure is long then you can take things out .put some water in some utensil...and then keep your thing submerged in that water

Answer 10

Ensure that you do not open the freezer at all as it will let out the cold and let in the warm. And same for the fridge, but just keep things to a minimum, as best you can.