CLEVELAND — As much as you can prepare for a power outage, time is of the essence when it comes to keeping the food in your fridge usable once the power comes back on.
So how much time do you have before the food must be moved from the fridge to the garbage?
Once the power goes out, keep the refrigerator and freezer doors shut. If they stay closed, a fridge will keep food cold for about four hours.
A full freezer should keep its temperature for up to 48 hours. The time is cut in half if the freezer's only half full.
If the power's been out for more than four hours, refrigerated foods like milk, eggs, meats, poultry and fish have to go. The CDC says you should never taste food to determine if it is safe to eat. 'When in doubt, throw it out.'
Once the power's restored, you can start using the fridge again as long as it stays below 40°F. The freezer should be at 0°F or below.
According to the CDC, you can prepare ahead of time by filling some of your unused space with dry ice, gel packs or frozen containers of water to help keep the temperatures down. Also, have a cooler handy in case you need to shift foods somewhere else.
And lets not forget those who rely on refrigerated medicines. Here is what the CDC recommends to those who may be wondering if their medicine is safe to use after hours of power loss.
- When the power is out for a day or more, throw away any medication that should be refrigerated, unless the drug's label says otherwise.
- If a life depends on the refrigerated drugs, use them only until a new supply is available.
- Replace all refrigerated drugs as soon as possible.
WTHR's Brooke Hasch contributed to this story