As Hurricane Matthew is blowing up the east coast, the best way to weather this storm and keep your food safe is to plan ahead before you lose power. Consider this food safety advice from the Food and Drug Administration and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics before, during and after you lose power:
Before the Power Goes Out:
— Make sure your refrigerator is set at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Above this temperature, pathogens — which cause foodborne illness — grow more rapidly.
— Check to make sure the freezer temperature is at or below 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
— Make sure your milk and eggs are stored in the back of your refrigerator, rather than on the door, to keep them colder longer. The temperature of the refrigerator door is typically higher due to its constant opening and closing.
— Move any fresh meat, poultry and fish, as well as leftovers in your refrigerator, into your freezer. Frozen food will stay colder longer.
— Put containers of water in your freezer to create blocks of ice to help keep food cold in the freezer, refrigerator or coolers just in case you lose power. It could also provide drinking water when it melts.
[See: 10 Cold and Flu Myths Debunked.]
Should the Power Goes Out:
— Avoid opening the refrigerator and freezer unnecessarily. The longer the doors are closed, the longer the food will remain at a cold temperature.
— If your power is restored within four hours and the refrigerator was not opened, the items in the refrigerator should be safe to eat.
— A freezer that is stuffed full will stay at freezing temperatures for two days if the door remains closed. A half-full freezer will stay at freezing temperatures for one day if the door remains closed.
[See: 17 Ways Heart Health Varies in Women and Men.]
Once the Power is Restored:
— When your power is restored, check the temperature inside of your refrigerator and freezer. If it is reads 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below, the food is safe to eat and/or can be refrozen.
— If the food has been above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for two hours or more, toss it.
— Wait until the temperature of the refrigerator drops to 40 degrees F or below before you restock it.
[See: 7 Ways to Get Calcium Beyond Milk.]
Lastly, when in doubt, throw it out. For more information, visit the FDA and AND.
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Hurricane Matthew: Food Safety Tips in Case You Lose Power originally appeared on usnews.com
