How long will a deep freezer stay cold with no electricity?!
I'm evacuated from hurricane ike and my power has been out for 4 days!. I have a deep freezer full of food and i want to know how rotten and smelly the food will be when im able to go homeWww@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
None of it will be good by the time you get home!. If your freezer is packed, then it might stay cold for 24 hrs!. or so; if it's only half-full (or less) it will thaw even faster!. But, the cost of the food is probably included in your homeowner's insurance policy!.!.!.!.!. So, you're probably my "neighbor" now (I live north of Dallas)!. I hope you find everything else, except that freezer, in good condition when you get home:)Www@FoodAQ@Com
How long foods will stay frozen depends on four factors!.
The amount of food in the freezer!. A fully loaded freezer will stay cold longer than one that is partially full!.
The type of frozen food!. A freezer full of meats will stay frozen longer than one packed with fruits, vegetables, or baked goods!.
The temperature of the food!. The colder you run your freezer, the colder the food; the colder the food, the longer it will stay frozen!.
The insulating ability of the freezer!. A well insulated freezer will keep food frozen longer than one with little insulation!.
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Generally, food will stay safe in the refrigerator for four to six hours!. When the power goes out, check the time!. It is important to know how long your power has been out!. Do not open and close the door to check food!. Placing block ice on a tray or pan in the refrigerator will help to keep it cool for about a day!. Move as much food as possible to the freezer!.
Realize that, even if the food looks and smells fine, it may not be safe to eat!. Bacteria that causes food poisoning does not make food look any different!. It will not smell bad or look odd!. If the food has been warm, above 40 degrees, for more than two hours, throw it away!. Do not taste the food to see if it is still good!.
Food in the freezer section of a refrigerator will stay frozen for about a day!. If a stand-alone freezer is full, food will stay frozen for about two days, one day if half full!. Again, do not open the door to check food!.
Dry ice can keep food frozen a couple of days!. Place cardboard on top of the food and put the dry ice on top of the cardboard!. Handle it with gloves and have the room well ventilated!. CAUTION: Be certain the room has good ventilation!. Carbon dioxide gas can accumulate and cause loss of consciousness and asphyxiation!.
If power will be out more than a few days, transfer foods as quickly as possible to another freezer or a commercial locker!.
If you know the power may go off, turn the freezer control to the lowest temperature!. If you might have several days without power, act quickly!. Get dry ice and put it in the freezer before food starts to thaw!. Dry ice is listed in the yellow pages of phone directories!. (Locate a source for dry ice before the power goes out to reduce your stress!.)
If the food still contains ice crystals when the power returns, it can safely be refrozen!. If there are no ice crystals but the food is cold (40 degrees or below), treat it as if it had been in the refrigerator, and use within the recommended time!. If the food is warm (above 40 degrees), toss it!.
Be especially careful with protein foods!.
If there's a rule of thumb for food safety, it is: When in doubt, throw it out!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
The amount of food in the freezer!. A fully loaded freezer will stay cold longer than one that is partially full!.
The type of frozen food!. A freezer full of meats will stay frozen longer than one packed with fruits, vegetables, or baked goods!.
The temperature of the food!. The colder you run your freezer, the colder the food; the colder the food, the longer it will stay frozen!.
The insulating ability of the freezer!. A well insulated freezer will keep food frozen longer than one with little insulation!.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!.!.!.
Generally, food will stay safe in the refrigerator for four to six hours!. When the power goes out, check the time!. It is important to know how long your power has been out!. Do not open and close the door to check food!. Placing block ice on a tray or pan in the refrigerator will help to keep it cool for about a day!. Move as much food as possible to the freezer!.
Realize that, even if the food looks and smells fine, it may not be safe to eat!. Bacteria that causes food poisoning does not make food look any different!. It will not smell bad or look odd!. If the food has been warm, above 40 degrees, for more than two hours, throw it away!. Do not taste the food to see if it is still good!.
Food in the freezer section of a refrigerator will stay frozen for about a day!. If a stand-alone freezer is full, food will stay frozen for about two days, one day if half full!. Again, do not open the door to check food!.
Dry ice can keep food frozen a couple of days!. Place cardboard on top of the food and put the dry ice on top of the cardboard!. Handle it with gloves and have the room well ventilated!. CAUTION: Be certain the room has good ventilation!. Carbon dioxide gas can accumulate and cause loss of consciousness and asphyxiation!.
If power will be out more than a few days, transfer foods as quickly as possible to another freezer or a commercial locker!.
If you know the power may go off, turn the freezer control to the lowest temperature!. If you might have several days without power, act quickly!. Get dry ice and put it in the freezer before food starts to thaw!. Dry ice is listed in the yellow pages of phone directories!. (Locate a source for dry ice before the power goes out to reduce your stress!.)
If the food still contains ice crystals when the power returns, it can safely be refrozen!. If there are no ice crystals but the food is cold (40 degrees or below), treat it as if it had been in the refrigerator, and use within the recommended time!. If the food is warm (above 40 degrees), toss it!.
Be especially careful with protein foods!.
If there's a rule of thumb for food safety, it is: When in doubt, throw it out!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
i think you might have 3 days!.!.!.but fish, chicken, and vegetable can't be refrozen (gets mushy)!.!.!.if the beef is still cool like 40 deg, you can refreeze it if you can!.!.!.!.but don't keep or eat anything suspect
good luck manWww@FoodAQ@Com
good luck manWww@FoodAQ@Com
I hope you have lots of garbage bags!! We are sorry to hear about the problems in your area!! Ontario, Canada!. We are collecting money to try and help!. Www@FoodAQ@Com