How long will food and milk last in a refrigerator without power?
I’m also in St. Louis. When the power goes out, my usual trick is to buy large bags of ice and simply stuff them into the freezer and refrigerator. You’ll want to put the bags of ice on a towel, then the towel and bag combination on the top shelf of your refrigerator, so that the denser, colder air from the bag of ice falls down onto the rest of your food. Dry ice will work, too. There’s a reason they used to call them “iceboxes”!
Just a quick update: I’m one of the lucky ones here who just got power back a couple of hours ago. I’ve been out with my girlfriend to see her best friend in the hospital who had a baby last night. Luckily the hospital has power but sadly the air conditioning went out today so that was quite a hassle…and they let her go home to her family’s house who have power and air… Hope the storm damage wasn’t too bad where you live adipocere! I can’t even come close to imagining what those of you in New Orleans went through…this was a bad storm but certainly nothing compared to that… To finally get back to my refrigerator, I ended up cleaning it out when I got back. Things had gotten bad because the power had been out a little over 24 hours…and oh the humanity the ice cream was melted…a little part of me died… I had no idea I could file this on insurance, but I think I’ll take zymurgy’s advice and not go through the hassle. I live in an apartment so it would just be under my renter’
When I filed my claim after Katrina I could claim the food but not the refrigerator nor my stand alone freezer. I had to throw away both of them because nothing could get the stink out even after cleaning them out which I do not wish on my worst enemy because after 5 weeks it was well…I still have nightmares about it. But that was what got me. The fridge and freezer no but the food yes. Sorry for the sidetrack…
If the storm did enough damge to necessitate filing an insurance claim, your homeowner’s insurance will actually pay for food lost due to power outtages. Mine did when we were hit by a hurricane and without power for a week. There was a line for spoiled food on the claim form, so I think this is pretty standard practice.
