Every large storm that knocks out power, friends ask the same question:

How long is my food in my freezer good?

The USDA offers this advice:

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) if the door remains closed.

Prepare your kitchen for a power outage

In addition to keeping your freezer and refrigerator doors closed, the following precautions will help you eat at home through at least 4 days of no-power:

• know where you can get bags of ice and coolers (have at least one large cooler on hand in your storage area) to extend the longevity of your frozen foods. If it’s cold out side, keep the cooler outside your house. Once you’ve moved food from the freezer to the cooler with ice, consider it now thawing and in the refrigerator stage.
• Prior to a storm, purchase fresh fruits and vegetables (that can be eaten raw or cooked), breads and non-perishables including canned salmon, tuna and vegetables. Canned cranberry sauce is a popular option in our house.
• Always be aware of how much gas remains in your grill. In the case of a power outage, your frozen meats can be thawed and cooked on the grill, allowing an additional two nights of dinners.
• Freeze waterbottles in small spaces in your refrigerator and freezer to allow the appliances to remain cold.

Image courtesy of patpitchaya / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

© 2012, Julie Meyers Pron. All rights reserved.

About Julie Meyers Pron

Julie Meyers Pron has written 1210 post in this blog.

mom of 3 and wife, Julie is a former elementary school teacher and a Public Relations manager. She is the owner/editor of Julieverse and VlogMom, columnist for Rusty & Rosy, Home Made Simple and P&G Everyday, the Social Media and Child Development Specialist at PlayWow, and a team member of Splash Creative Media. Julie is a PTOer, volunteer, elementary educator and that's just the beginning of the list. A marketing strategist and freelance writer by trade, Julie attempts to carve out time to enjoy playing with her kids, cooking and exercise.

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