Power outage: keep or toss?

[DIS B]

Thanks to Isaac, we lost power for 2.5 hours last night. No one opened the door and my husband checked the temp on the fridge when the power was restored. It read 22 degrees in freezer and 37 degrees in fridge. I'm worried for 2 reasons:
1. We keep our fridge at 37 degrees normally, si it seems weird it didn't even fall a degree.

2. I have an 18 month-old that has a metabolic disorder and ends up in the hospital every time she vomits. Don't want to give her anything that could be potentially spoiled.

We bought quite a bit of groceries this weekend because the storm wasn't supposed to "hit" here.

So, should I toss almost everything in the fridge?

 

[Jerseyguy's Wife]

If you were only without power for 2.5 hours, and you didn't open the door of the fridge, you should be fine. Refrigerators are insulated, so it is not that surprising that when you opened the door after the power came back on the temp hadn't fallen. It was only a couple hours, after all. We lose power ALL the time, and I don't throw food away unless it has been a significant amount of time without (we are talking a day or more). If it makes you uncomfortable to think of using the milk in there, by all means throw it out. But I think you should be fine using everything in your fridge.

 

[JavArmy]

Everything should be fine, especially if you had a lot of food in there, that helps. We were without power for 4 days this summer in 100 degree weather. They were saying on the radio that food in the fridge is usually good for 1-2 days if you don't open the fridge. Good luck with the storm.

 

[dhardawa]

That amount of time is nothing. I have lost power for days and the food was fine as long as we didn't open the door.

 

[WIDisneyFan]

I agree with the others - after 2.5 hours you are just fine.

 

[CatNipRules]

I agree with the others. As long as you didn't open the door everything should be fine. We've lost power for a few hours longer than you and everything was fine with our food.

 

[dcfromva]

Here are the guidelines from the USDA website:

Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature. The refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed. Obtain dry or block ice to keep your refrigerator as cold as possible if the power is going to be out for a prolonged period of time. Fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic foot full freezer for 2 days. Plan ahead and know where dry ice and block ice can be purchased.

Link to USDA web site for Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency

If it was only 2.5 hours and you kept the door closed, you should be fine.

 

[DIS B]

Here are the guidelines from the USDA website:



Link to USDA web site for Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency

If it was only 2.5 hours and you kept the door closed, you should be fine.

I read that before posting on here, but then I read you should have a thermometer in different parts of the refrigerator. My husband didn't want to open the fridge because the power came on at 1am and he wanted it to have a chance to get going before letting all the cold air out. He was so tired after being up waiting for the power to come back on. Is the digital temp that the fridge posts accurate?

 

[dcfromva]

Is the digital temp that the fridge posts accurate?

Unless your thermometer keeps track of the low temp, I'm not sure the temp reading would help you in this instance (other than tell you it's back to normal).
As stated previously, your fridge has insulation around it (like a cold chest) and the items in the fridge will also work to keep things cool. The groceries are not going to spoil right away.

But, there is no reason to take a chance. If you are still not sure, why don't you call your Dr's office for guidance?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I agree that the temperature reading isn't important. Being without power for 2.5 hours is not long enough to affect the food in your refrigerator, especially if you didn't open it. It's fine.

 

[littlebit0863]

We lost power overnight once and the ice cream was still frozen solid so I think you will be ok

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I would think if it is just 2.5 hours, it should be fine. That amount of time, especially if the fridge wasn't opened I would not worry about it at all.