Have you lost power due to the extreme weather around the country? One of your concerns may be keeping the food and drinks in your fridge and freezer cool. While many people use the cold weather to their advantage by keeping their perishable or frozen items outside in the snow and cold when their power goes down, it’s not the safest idea.
Doing the Research
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), there are a number of reasons why you shouldn’t do this. Among them is that the sun’s rays can thaw food even when it’s freezing cold outside and perishable items can be exposed to unsanitary conditions or animals that can cause bacteria and disease.
Other Options
So what are you supposed to do if you’re out of power? The good news is that the fridge will keep food cold for about four hours if it remains closed. A freezer will hold the temperature for about 48 hours if it’s full and 24 hours if it’s half full as long as the door remains closed.
If the power is out for a while, it’s best to get dry or block ice to keep your fridge cold. You can even make you own ice by filling buckets, empty milk cartons, or cans with water and leaving them outside so they can freeze. Then you can use them in your fridge, freezer, or coolers.
