Currently been without power for 30 hours - what's the food storage situation please?

[HisMajestysSecretCervix]

The storms have meant that we've been without power for over 30 hours now and our electricity company are now saying it's a complex situation and they'll aim for 8pm this evening for restoration but this has already been their 5th update and it just keeps being pushed back and back

So apart from it being a bit miserable all round, my question is my food! I have approximately £120 worth of food in my fridge (id unluckily just done a weekly food shop!) and I have £280 worth in my freezer (the Christmas meat!)

How long can it stay there for? I've not opened the freezer door in 30 hours but I have opened the fridge door a couple of times and besides, I know that's probably pretty irrelevant as the temp in there will definitely have dropped

Can I claim for my food from my insurance company? Or do I go via the energy company? I have proof of what's in there

The freezer should be fine don't open it. Do you have any indication when power will be back on? I'd imagine the fridge will be fine too, it's not exactly warm.

Yes you can usually claim on insurance, check your terms.

Cheese, butter, jars etc will be fine.

Things like fresh chicken, ready meals that have gone out of date because you couldn’t cook them less so.

I think the food will be fine

In terms of insurance, wont the excess mean that its virtually not worth claiming, particularly if your premium goes up because you've made a claim?

Isnt it also considered 'act of god', I thought there was a term in insurance for things like bad weather, not sure

I'm not sure if it will be worth claiming tbh

The energy company have provided a welfare van for hot food on the estate and we are all offered £30 per person per day for any meals eaten in a restaurant for example providing you keep the receipt

It's less about the money - although I cannot afford to lose over £300! - and more about the sheer waste. So I'd like to not have to bin it all

I won't touch the freezer and just hope and pray the food in there is ok

@soupfiend may be for the insurance company perhaps yes. Not for the electricity company though I don't think.

Could you light a bbq or something and cook the meat in the fridge ? Just trying to think how you can save some food !