Buzz
Power outages lasting hours or even days are never pleasant, especially when it means throwing away all the food in your fridge. If you know a major storm is on the way, you can extend the shelf life of your food by filling your freezer with water jugs.
A fully stocked freezer will stay cold for up to 48 hours, but a half-full freezer can only maintain its temperature for about 24 hours. (Just don’t overstuff it — leave some room for air to circulate.) In contrast, a refrigerator only keeps things cold for around four hours, assuming you don’t keep opening the doors.
Ahead of the storm, you can fill your freezer with items from your fridge. This will help preserve those perishables a bit longer while also aiding in keeping the freezer cool. Water containers are ideal for filling the remaining space: they’re larger and more affordable than gel ice packs, plus they can double as emergency drinking water.
While you’re getting ready, consider picking up a refrigerator thermometer to monitor the temperature. Freezers should be kept below 0 degrees Fahrenheit, while refrigerators need to stay at 40 degrees or lower for safety.
Image courtesy of Visual Hunt.
