Given a failure of electricity, especially on the hottest days or during storms, many people face immediate concern: how to prevent food from the fridge from spoiling. Energy loss can happen unexpectedly and prolonged, causing not only financial losses but also health risks due to the deterioration of fresh products.
To avoid food waste and ensure the safety of refrigerated products, there are simple and effective strategies that can be put into practice. The following tips are useful to maintain the inner temperature of the refrigerator low for as long as possible, even without electricity.
Avoid opening the door
When electricity supply is interrupted, the most important step is to avoid opening the refrigerator, according to the . Each time the door is open, cold air comes out and warm air, speeding up the increase in temperature inside. Therefore, you should keep the door closed and only open it if it is absolutely necessary.
The internal refrigeration of a refrigerator can stay for a few hours without power, provided the door is not repeatedly open. Under normal conditions, a closed refrigerator can keep the cold for about four hours, while a freezer can keep the temperature for up to 48 hours if it is full.
Reinforce thermal insulation
A practical measure to keep the internal temperature lower during a power failure is to reinforce the isolation of the refrigerator. You can use blankets, towels or thermal blankets to cover the device, creating an additional barrier against the outside heat. The goal is to reduce heat exchange between the interior of the refrigerator and the environment.
In addition, it is possible to resort to the role of aluminum to reflect the heat. By placing aluminum with a shiny face facing out, the amount of heat absorbed by the appliance can be reduced. However, this solution should be used only when the refrigerator is already cold.
Prepare ice in advance
An effective way to keep the temperature low is to use ice cubes, previously prepared and stored in the freezer. These ice blocks act as temporary cold sources and help keep the temperature more stable inside the refrigerator and freezer during a blackout.
If you have no ice cubes, you can use frozen water bottles, which fulfill the same function. It is appropriate to always have some frozen blocks ready for unforeseen situations, refers to the same source. These can also be placed in a portable glacier if it is necessary to transfer the food.
Choose the most appropriate place
During a prolonged energy failure, the location of the fridge can influence the speed with which it warms. If possible and safe, it can move the appliance to a cooler, shadowed place, far from direct exposure to the sun or from heat sources.
Avoid placing the refrigerator near windows where between sunlight or close to heat -generating equipment such as ovens or water. The less external heat reaches the refrigerator, the slower the internal temperature rise will be.
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Use a portable glacier in case of emergency
If the forecast is that the electricity failure is extended for several hours or until days, it is recommended to resort to a portable glacier. Transfer the most perishable foods to this thermal box and fill it with ice or reusable ice blocks.
Glaciers, especially those of good isolation, can keep food fresh for a long time, according to the same source. This solution is particularly useful for conserving meat, fish, dairy products and meals that can not be refrigerated long.
Check the food after the restoration of the energy
Once the energy is restored, it is important to verify the state of food stored in the fridge. If you notice that there has been full defrost in the freezer or that the products have a bad smell, altered texture or signs of deterioration, they should be discarded.
If in doubt, do not risk consuming foods that may have been contaminated due to heat. Ingestion of damaged products can cause food poisoning, especially in more fragile people.
Avoid overloading the fridge
Keeping the fridge organized and without excess food can facilitate cold air circulation inside and improve conservation during energy failures. A too full refrigerator warms faster and makes it difficult to maintain a homogeneous temperature.
On the other hand, the freezer, when full, keeps the cold better. Therefore, if you have space, you can fill it with water bottles to freeze and ensure a longer cooling time in case of electric failure.
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