Are you prepared to prevent food from spoiling during a weather emergency?
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EmailUse these simple tips to keep your food safe.
Michigan’s weather can be unpredictable and destructive at any time of year. Being prepared for a wide variety of weather emergencies is part of the solution. Here are steps to take ahead of time in the event of a potential weather emergency:
- Michigan State University Extension recommends you purchase an appliance thermometer for the refrigerator and one for the freezer. A freezer needs to be at 0 °F to keep food safely frozen and a refrigerator needs to be at or below 40 °F, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Maintaining these temperatures is necessary to keep food safe.
- Containers of frozen water and gel packs can be used to help keep food cold in a freezer, refrigerator, or coolers after the power goes out. Also consider freezing leftover food, milk, fresh meat and poultry to maintain a safe temperature when the power goes out.
- Plan ahead and know where the nearest source of dry ice is and where block ice can be purchased locally.
- To help keep food cold longer in the freezer, try grouping items together to form blocks of frozen food.
- If there is a threat of flooding, plan on storing foods off the floor and away from rising water. MSU Extension recommends other tips for preparing and recovering from a flood.
Planning ahead will help keep the food safe to eat during and following a weather emergency.
For answers to your safe food and water questions, call MSU Extension's Food Safety Hotline at 1-877-643-9882. For more information on food safety, visit MSU Extension's Safe Food & Water website.