How to Tell if Your Freezer Power Was Off When You Were Away

Helping you prepare healthy foods in a hurry

How to Tell if Your Freezer
Power Was Off When You Were Away

	Alice Henneman, MS, RD, Extension Educator & Dietitian University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County
	Joyce Jensen, Registered Environmental Health Specialist Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department

A gentleman had been traveling during a time when the electricity was off for several days in many homes in his community. However, when he returned home, his electricity was working and everything in his freezer was frozen solid.

He proceeded to eat some food from the freezer and got sick. What happened?

In this case, his electricity actually had been off for about a week, and then came back on. Everything in his freezer had thawed and been at unsafe temperatures for several days. As the food froze again when the electricity returned, he was unaware there were any food safety problems.

Here's a simple way to help detect this problem. Store an ice cube or two in a sealed plastic bag or small container in the freezer; a sealed bag/container is important so the ice cube doesn't evaporate and disappear. If the ice cube has melted down from its original shape, you'll know the power was off for an extended period of time.

For information on handling your food during a power outage:
www.fsis.usda.gov/food_security_and_emergency_preparedness/keeping_food_safe_during_an_emergency/index.asp

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Developed By:

Alice C. Henneman, MS, RD
Extension Educator
University of Nebraska
Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County

Fax: (402) 441-7148
Phone: (402) 441-7180
E-Mail: ahenneman1@unl.edu
Web site: lancaster.unl.edu/food

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