Rolling With the Blackouts

Hot weather is here, along with the potential for rolling electrical blackouts. When the power goes down, so do your refrigerator and freezer. Since warm temperatures and perishable foods do not live in harmony with each other, here are some hints for keeping your food supply safe during the energy crisis.

* Keep a thermometer in your refrigerator and freezer. The desirable temperature range for refrigerators is between 34 and 40 degrees. Keep your refrigerator closer to 34 degrees, so that if the power goes out, you have a margin of safety. Freezers should be kept at zero degrees or lower.

* If the electricity goes off, keep the refrigerator and freezer doors shut--they are designed to maintain temperatures efficiently for several hours, as long as the doors remain closed.

* If the power outage continues, you may need to check the temperature in the refrigerator. If the temperature has climbed above 40 degrees, transfer ice or frozen food from the freezer into the refrigerator to reduce the temperature. Freezer temperatures should not need checking because they are usually more stable than refrigerator temperatures.

* When the power comes back on, take inventory. As a rule of thumb, discard perishable foods if they have been above 40 degrees for more than two hours. Bacteria can multiply quite quickly above that temperature and cause food-borne illness. The most dangerous foods are high-protein items such as fish, meat, eggs and dairy products. Fruits, vegetables and condiments may be held at room temperature for longer periods without problems, unless they show signs of mold or decay. If frozen foods still have ice crystals, they can be refrozen, though the quality of the food may be reduced. It is best to use these foods as quickly as possible.

* In the unlikely event you are stuck with a freezer full of defrosted food, it should be moved to the refrigerator and cooked within three days.

* When in doubt, toss it out. If you have some questionable foods that have been at dangerous temperatures for a couple of hours, don’t take a chance. Leftovers and restaurant doggie bags are highly suspect to begin with, because they have probably already been at room temperature.

The Southern California Edison Web site lists energy-saving tips and a current list of Southern California communities experiencing blackouts: https://www.sce.com/index.shtml

*

Palmer is a registered dietitian.