Keeping Your Food Safe During Storm Niko

on
Photo Source:  FDA
Yesterday, I was wearing a light jacket, today I am dressed in parka ready for Storm Niko.  With high winds and a lot of snow predicted, let's hope it doesn't take down the power lines in your neighborhood.
  
To prepare yourself for this potential power outage storm before and during this storm, consider this advice by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) in order to to keep your refrigerated foods safe:  

Before the Power Goes Out:
  • Make sure that your refrigerator is set at 40 degrees F or below. Above this temperature, pathogens, which cause foodborne illness, grow more rapidly.
  • Make sure that your milk and eggs are stored in the back of your refrigerator, rather than on the door, to keep them colder longer. The temperature of the refrigerator door is typically higher due to its constant opening and closing.
  • Move any fresh meat, poultry, and fish, as well as leftovers in your refrigerator, into your freezer.  Frozen food will stay colder longer.
  • Put containers of water in your freezer to create blocks of ice to help keep food cold in the freezer, refrigerator, or coolers just in case you lose power.
Should the Power Goes Out:
  • Avoiding opening the refrigerator and freezer unnecessarily. The longer the doors are closed, the longer the food will remain at a cold temperature.
  • If your power is restored within four hours, the items in the refrigerator should be safe to eat if you don't constantly open it.
  • A freezer that is stuffed full will stay at freezing temperatures for two days if the door remains closed. A half-full freezer will stay at freezing temperatures for one day if the door remains closed.
Once the Power is Restored:
  • When your power is restored, check the temperature inside of your refrigerator and freezer. If it is reads 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below, the food is safe to eat and/or can be refrozen.
  • Wait until the temperature of the refrigerator drops to 40 degrees F or below before you restock it.
Lastly, when in doubt, throw it out.

Be safe, Joan

Twitter: @JoanSalgeBlake

Comments

Post a Comment