Power cut - food in fridge and freezer

[holidayseeker]

We are currently experiencing a power cut.

Can I ask how long food will be safe for in the fridge and freezer without power?

Thanks

Leave the doors shut, whatever you do. And put a blanket over it if possible.

I googled it for you: 4-6 hours for the fridge and 15-24 for the freezer.

www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/internet/en/help-and-advice/need-help/what-should-i-do-with-my-fridge-freezer-during-a-power-cut.html

Depends how often you open them tbh. You can claim for spoiled food on your household insurance I think.

Depending how long the power outage lasts and how much food you have you could take out raw stuff from the freezer, cook it and then refreeze it when the power's back on. I did this when my idiot EXH left the freezer door open one day; spend a whole afternoon making pasta sauces / curries / chilli etc and then whacked it all back in.

With the freezer I would have a look when the power comes back on and

Anything still frozen, happy days, put it back in
Anything cold but defrosted, eat within a few days (or mark as “eat as soon as defrosted” and refreeze, but I’m a bit more cavalier)
Anything not cold any more, eat if it’s bread etc, bin if it’s meat.

depends how often you open the door and how full it is.
but a fridge should keep cool for a day at least and a freezer a day or 2 as well.
(our fridge/freezer stopped working dufing the heatwave and fridge didn't go over 8 degrees and freeze over -10 after 2 days, so still food safe.)

Ours was out of about 8hrs last winter without issues. Admittedly, we also had no heating, so the hose was rather chilly too.

If you don't open the freezer door it will last for ages so I'd be keeping my fingers crossed for at least the rest of the day. If it's still off at dinner time I'd contact local friends / family to beg space!

Fridge is more difficult but please don't just chuck stuff just in case! Use your common sense around what the risk is, does it smell etc. Veg / salad will be fine. Milk / yoghurt / cream you can smell easily if it's gone off. Cheese should be ok as would all the random jars of jam / mustard and butter etc. Cooked meat I'd use pretty quickly or cook it eg put ham in a pasta sauce etc.

Raw meat / fish you need to be more careful about obviously but unless it gets proper room temp for a prolonged period (2/3 hrs) just make sure it's cooked well and it will be fine