Howdy y’all,

We’re hunkering down over here at the Day household. If you live in the projected path of Isaac as well, please take a second to look over these quick and important tips on food safety. I’ve got my grill, a cast iron skillet and my dutch oven ready – bring it, Isaac!

When the Power Goes Out:

• Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
• The refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened.
• Refrigerators should be kept at 40° F or below for proper food storage.

Once the Power is Restored:

• Check the temperature inside of your refrigerator and freezer.
• If an appliance thermometer was kept in the freezer, check the temperature when the power comes back on. If the freezer thermometer reads 40° F or below, the food is safe and may be refrozen.
• If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, check each package of food to determine its safety. You can’t rely on appearance or odor. If the food still contains ice crystals or is 40° F or below, it is safe to refreeze or cook.
• Refrigerated food should be safe as long as the power was out for no more than 4 hours. Keep the door closed as much as possible.
• Discard any perishable food (such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs or leftovers) that has been above 40° F for two hours or more.

For these tips and more, visit the FDA’s website at this link: Consumers Power Outages: Key Tips for Consumers About Food Safety

Be safe and eat well!

T