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As all eyes are on the weather channel with Hurrican Ivan rapidly approaching I thought I might offer some advice concerning maintaining food during a power outage.
Modern refigerator freezers are capable of maintaining frozen foods for up to 36 hours in the event of a power outage, however, there are some steps the user should take to insure the longest possible keep time.
Refrigerators and freezers work best when they are full. Whenever you have at least a 24 hour advanced warnings of potential power outages fill the vacant space in the freezer with plastic containers of water. If those containers freeze solid, move them to the food compartment and add more containers to the freezer.
The advantage is that the containers will displace the free air with blocks of ice that will prolong the holding ability of the unit.
In addition, if the power goes out, do not open the refrigerator or freezer door. Opening the door for even a few moments cuts the remaining hold time in half. Thus while it may hold 36 hours, open the door once, it is now 18 hours, open a second time and its 9hours, next opening decreases hold time to 4.5 hours, etc etc.
Normally after a hurricane or severe storm electrical utility services can be severly disrupted, and often when restoring the power the lights will work intermittently a few times before the system is restored. Repeatedly starting and stopping refrigeration compressors is a condition known in the trade as short cycling and can cause severe damage to the motors. It is best to unplug the refrigerator when the power goes off, then plug it in again when your are sure the power is fully restored.
Modern refigerator freezers are capable of maintaining frozen foods for up to 36 hours in the event of a power outage, however, there are some steps the user should take to insure the longest possible keep time.
Refrigerators and freezers work best when they are full. Whenever you have at least a 24 hour advanced warnings of potential power outages fill the vacant space in the freezer with plastic containers of water. If those containers freeze solid, move them to the food compartment and add more containers to the freezer.
The advantage is that the containers will displace the free air with blocks of ice that will prolong the holding ability of the unit.
In addition, if the power goes out, do not open the refrigerator or freezer door. Opening the door for even a few moments cuts the remaining hold time in half. Thus while it may hold 36 hours, open the door once, it is now 18 hours, open a second time and its 9hours, next opening decreases hold time to 4.5 hours, etc etc.
Normally after a hurricane or severe storm electrical utility services can be severly disrupted, and often when restoring the power the lights will work intermittently a few times before the system is restored. Repeatedly starting and stopping refrigeration compressors is a condition known in the trade as short cycling and can cause severe damage to the motors. It is best to unplug the refrigerator when the power goes off, then plug it in again when your are sure the power is fully restored.