After I started cooking more at home, I developed a passion for looking for the right ingredients, cooking efficiently, and learning different techniques for creating delicious meals. It was really clear to me that I was able to make gourmet dishes that my entire family would really like, and I felt like it was really interesting to try new things each and every day. After months of experimenting with cooking, things really came together for me. I found a few really excellent dishes that tasted incredible, and I was happy to serve them to family members and friends. Check out this blog for great tips on preparing gourmet food each and every day at home.
How To Save The Contents Of Your Fridge When Disaster Strikes
If your power unexpectedly goes out or your fridge decides to stop cooling properly, it's disheartening to know that you might lose an entire freezer or refrigerator full of food. Minimize your financial losses caused by your power or equipment failure by following this guide.
Purchase Dry Ice and a Cooler
Don't sit around and anxiously wait for your power to be restored. Instead, purchase dry emergency ice and a cooler to save your food. To prevent your food from spoiling, it's important to make sure you purchase enough dry ice for the volume of food that you need to cool. The following factors will influence the amount of dry ice that you need:
- Whether you need to freeze or cool the food
- The weight of the food that you need to save
- The length of time that you need to keep the food at a safe temperature
An experienced dry ice vendor can help you calculate your ideal amount of dry ice. Remember, dry ice does not melt like traditional ice; instead, it evaporates. When it evaporates, it released carbon dioxide into the air. Always use dry ice in a well-ventilated area.
Look for a cooler that will permit the dry ice to safely evaporate. You should look for a model that allows you to keep the lid slightly open or has a removable drain. An airtight cooler will cause the carbon dioxide to build up, increasing the pressure and putting the cooler at risk of exploding.
To protect your plastic cooler from the immense cold of the dry ice, you may wish to use a Styrofoam cooler inside the plastic cooler. Make sure that you wear gloves when handling dry ice to avoid inadvertently causing a freezer burn on your hands.
It's possible to place the dry ice directly in your fridge or freezer. However, if your fridge needs repairs, this might not be a viable option; you might need to remove the contents to ensure the repairman can access certain areas. If you need to leave your home after a power failure, a cooler makes it easier to take your food with you.
Act as Quickly as Possible
Time is of the essence when it comes to saving the food in your fridge. Once your perishable food items have been stored at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer for more than two hours, it is no longer safe to consume (even if it looks or smells okay).
When you leave to purchase your dry ice, make sure that your that the rest of your household avoids opening the fridge as much as possible. Each time the fridge is opened, this raises the temperature of your fridge, putting your food at risk.