Winter Storm Food Safety



photo: armigeress via flickr

 Hopefully, no one will lose their power over the next few days because of the winter storm.  But what will you do with the food in the fridge and freezer if you do?

US Food Safety Bog has some great info available on the subject.

• Keep an appliance thermometer in the fridge and freeze. 
• Make Sure the freezer is a 0 degrees or below and the fridge is at 40 degrees or below.
• Freeze refrigerator items such as leftovers, milk, and fresh meat and poultry that you my not need immediately in the freezer.
• Group food together in the freezer - this keeps the food cold longer.
• Plan ahead and know where dry ice and block ice can be purchased.
• Plan ahead and make ice cubes and freeze gel packs.
• Have coolers on hand to keep refrigerator food cold if the power will be out for more than 4 hours. 

We have enough coolers in the basement to take an entire Scout Troop camping for the weekend.  If we loose our power, I plan on loading them up and putting them on the back porch.  What are your plans?