Freeze Your Leftovers And Other Tips Ahead Of Hurricane Florence

MYRTLE BEACH, SC — The federal government has offered up some food safety tips as emergency officials warn of weeks-long power outages due to Hurricane Florence. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued food safety recommendations Wednesday for those affected by the Category 4 storm, which has been dubbed the "storm of a lifetime."

South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia will each likely see flooding, hurricane force winds and storm surge, the National Hurricane Center warned. Hurricanes often down trees and power lines, resulting in widespread power outages and flooding that can quickly spoil your dinner.

The FSIS suggests you keep appliance thermometers in both the refrigerator and freezer to ensure temperatures remain food safe during a power outage. Safe temperatures are 40 degrees or lower in the refrigerator, 0 degrees or lower in the freezer.

You should also fFreeze water in one-quart plastic storage bags or small containers before the storm. Make sure the containers are small enough to fit around the food in the refrigerator and freezer to help keep food cold. And don't forget: Water expands when it freezes, so don’t overfill the containers.

Below are other recommendations from the FSIS on reducing food waste and the risk of foodborne illness.

• Freeze refrigerated items, including leftovers, milk and fresh meat and poultry that you may not need immediately. This helps keep them at a safe temperature longer.
• Know where you can get dry ice or block ice.
• Have coolers on hand to keep refrigerator food cold if the power will be out for more than four hours.
• Group foods together in the freezer — this ‘igloo’ effect helps the food stay cold longer.
• Keep a few days’ worth of ready-to-eat foods that do not require cooking or cooling.

If The Power Goes Out

Duke Energy reportedly estimated that up to 3 million customers could lose power and it will take weeks — not days — to be restored. Should your power go out, the agency stressed you should keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.

"A refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours if the door is kept closed," the agency said. "A full freezer will hold its temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if half-full)."

Other tips in the event of a power outage: Place meat and poultry to one side of the freezer or on a tray to prevent cross contamination of thawing juices. Use dry or block ice to keep the refrigerator as cold as possible during an extended power outage. Fifty pounds of dry ice should keep a fully-stocked 18-cubic-feet freezer cold for two days.

If It Floods

Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with flood water, officials warned. This includes raw fruits and vegetables, cartons of milk or eggs.

Discard any food that is not in a waterproof container if there is any chance that it has come into contact with flood water. Food containers that are not waterproof include those packaged in plastic wrap or cardboard, or those with screw‐caps, snap lids, pull tops and crimped caps. Flood waters can enter into any of these containers and contaminate the food inside. Also, discard cardboard juice/milk/baby formula boxes and home-canned foods if they have come in contact with flood water, because they cannot be effectively cleaned and sanitized.

Inspect canned foods and discard any food in damaged cans. Can damage is shown by swelling, leakage, punctures, holes, fractures, extensive deep rusting or crushing/denting severe enough to prevent normal stacking or opening with a manual, wheel‐type can opener.

After A Weather Emergency

Check the temperature inside of your refrigerator and freezer. Discard any perishable food, including meat, poultry, seafood, eggs or leftovers, that has been above 40 degrees for two hours or more. You should check each item separately and throw out any food that has an unusual odor, color or texture or feels warm to the touch.

Also check frozen food for ice crystals. The food in your freezer that partially or completely thawed may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is 40 degrees or below.

"Never taste a food to decide if it’s safe," the USDA warned.

And of course, when in doubt, throw it out.

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