How to keep your food safe during and after power outages

As Hurricane Isaias approaches, heavy rain and strong winds could leave some Georgians without power for hours or even days.

Even a few hours without electricity can turn ordinary meals into a potential health hazard, making planning and preparations essential to keep both food and families safe.

Here are food safety tips to prepare for emergencies during and after power outages to keep food safe during and after a storm.

Freeze your food in preparation

If a storm or natural disaster is expected in your area, a quick precaution is to move food from the refrigerator to the freezer to help them stay safe longer during a power outage.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food is safe in the fridge as long as it is at 40 degrees or below, while the freezer should be set to 0 degrees. Freezing food ahead of time can help preserve it during an outage, especially if the freezer is kept closed.

Before a hurricane hits, make freezing perishable foods part of your preparation routine, along with stocking up on essentials and checking the batteries in your flashlights.

Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed

During a power outage, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to preserve cold temperatures. According to the CDC, food can stay safe in an unopened refrigerator for up to four hours and in a full freezer for up to 48 hours. A half-full freezer keeps food frozen for about 24 hours.

If the power has been out for four hours, transfer perishable foods to a cooler with ice or frozen gel packs.

Use appliance thermometers

The CDC recommends keeping appliance thermometers in your refrigerator and freezer to monitor temperatures during a power outage.

There are ways to maintain safe temperatures if a power outage last longer than expected, such as frozen gel packs, coolers and even dry ice, but handle it carefully and follow safety instructions.

Plan meals strategically

During a power outage, it’s important to prioritize eating perishable foods that are still cold and safe.

Before opening the fridge doors, plan out what items you’ll need for that meal and quickly grab them to keep the doors closed as much as possible.

Save the nonperishables for later. Canned foods, bread, peanut butter and other snacks can be eaten once the cold foods are gone or no longer safe to eat.

When in doubt, throw it out

The CDC advises against tasting food to determine if it is safe to eat. Instead, follow the rule: “When in doubt, throw it out.”

Perishable foods — including dairy products, meat, fish, eggs and leftovers — should be discarded if held above 40 degrees for four hours or more. Don’t rely on unusual smells, textures or colors to determine whether food is safe, as harmful bacteria may not change its appearance or odor.

Even if food has been cooked, that does not make it safe after a prolonged power outage.

Take extra precautions after flooding

If floodwater enters your home, take extra precautions with food that may have been contaminated.

The CDC says that you should throw out all foods that may have come in contact with flood or stormwater, as well as foods in packages that are not waterproof and cans that are bulging, open or damaged. Avoid eating food from containers with screw caps, snap lids, twist caps or snap tops, as these closures may not protect against contamination.