How to eat safe food after a power outage
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News from CSKT Tribal Health
FLATHEAD RESERVATION — Refrigerated or frozen foods may not be safe to eat after the loss of power. Find out what you can do to keep food safe during a power outage, and when you need to throw away food that could make you sick.
Before a power outage:
— Keep appliance thermometers in your refrigerator and freezer. The refrigerator should be at 40oF or below.
— The freezer should be at 0oF.
— Prepare for emergencies or natural disasters by freezing containers of water and gel packs to help keep your food at 40oF or below. — Have a cooler hand and buy dry ice or block ice to keep food cold in the refrigerator if the power might be out for a long time.
During a power outage:
— Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. After 4 hours without power, put refrigerated perishable foods in a cooler. Add ice or another cold source to keep them at 40oF or below.
After a power outage:
— Never taste food to determine if it is safe to eat. When in doubt, throw it out.
— Throw out perishable food in your refrigerator (meat, fish, cut fruits and vegetables, eggs, milk and leftovers) after 4 hours without power or a cold source.
— Throw out any food with an unusual odor, color, or texture.
— Check temperatures of food kept in coolers or your refrigerator with a cold source.
— Throw out food above 40oF.
— If you have an appliance thermometer in your freezer, check to see if it is still at 40oF. or below.
— You can safely refreeze or cook thawed frozen food that still contains ice crystals or is at 40oF. or below.
Remember foods will stay safe for:
— Up to 4 hours in a refrigerator
— Up to 48 hours in a fully -stocked freezer
— Up to 24 hours in a half-stocked freezer
