Still without power? Here is what you should keep, throw out in your refrigerator
Thousands are still without power in the Miami Valley, and some food in your refrigerator could be dangerous if eaten.
Before you throw out everything in your fridge, the Center for Disease Control and our news partners at WCPO offers these tips:
>> UPDATE: Over 10,000 power outages remain across region after Monday’s severe storms
keep the refrigerator and freezer doors shut, if you limit the number of time that cold air escapes the fridge, you’ll probably be able to keep it longer
Your food in the refrigerator is more at-risk to spoil than freezer food
Perishable food in the fridge like milk, eggs, uncooked meats and cooked vegetables will be safe for 4-6 hours, according to the CDC
Never taste food to determine its safety
The Cincinnati Health Department says that you should worry once perishable foods have been kept at 41 degrees or warmer; 41 to 140 degrees is the “danger zone” for thawed, perishable foods
Frozen foods, however, can stay safe for up to 48 hours in a closed, full freezer (a half-full freezer will keep food safe for 24 hours), according to the CDC, if the foods contain ice crystals, they can be refrozen or cooked
The health department suggests adding “bags of ice or dry ice to the freezer if it appears the power will be off for an extended time”
If the color, odor or texture of a food is suspect, throw it out or as the CDC states “When in doubt, throw it out”
Some foods may be sub-par after being stored at room temperature, but they will not be dangerous to eat — butter or margarine, cheeses, condiments (excluding mayonnaise), vinegar-based salad dressings, fresh, uncut fruits, raw vegetables, pastries and fruit juices all fall into this category
If you are still without power, you can contact DUKE energy to report your outage at 1-800-543-5599 or if you are a customer with AES Ohio you can call 877-468-8243.
