The Food in Your Fridge

This post has been inspired by the recent power outages in the Northeast.
With the power out, the food stored in your refrigerator will start to spoil.
If you have a power outage in the winter, at least you have a cold pace to put some of your food so it won't spoil: outside! But put it on some kind of tamper proof container so the local racoon, deer, dogs, cats won't get into it. Temperatures will vary because of the sun...so be cautious. Monitor the temperature of the container.

If you have a power outage in the summer, you won't be able to put some of your food outside to keep cold. There is a protocol for dealing with the food in your fridge, but first:

Do you know what temperature your refrigerator should be?


from http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_051905_01/index.asp we read:

The refrigerator temperature should be at 40 degrees F. or below.

Most people assume that the internal refrigerator temperature control dial is good enough. Only 30 percent of consumers have heard that they should use a separate tool -- a refrigerator thermometer -- to check the temperature and only 20 percent of consumers say they actually use one, according to a recent national study.

Relying on the "built-in" refrigerator temperature control dial is not effective. Instead, use a separate refrigerator thermometer to check the internal refrigerator temperature and help keep food safer. If the refrigerator thermometer shows a temperature that's too high - above 40 degrees F. then adjust the refrigerator's control dial. You can buy a refrigerator thermometer at many grocery, hardware or kitchen specialty stores.


from this site, I learned more...
http://blog.usa.gov/roller/govgab/entry/keep_food_safe_during_a

It’s pretty easy to take care of your food for a short power outage, and there are steps you can take to save your food for a longer outage too. Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed. An unopened refrigerator will keep foods cold enough for a couple of hours at least. A freezer that is half full will hold for up to 24 hours and a full freezer for 48 hours. When the power comes back on, use a thermometer to check the temperature of your refrigerator and freezer. If the refrigerator is 40° F or colder, and the freezer is still colder than 40° F, the food is safe.


That said, here is the protocol for when the power goes out. If it is a short power outage, just keep the refrigerator closed.
If it is a longer power outage, you want to preserve your refrigerated food as long as possible and use the food in it wisely:

1. First use anything that is highly perishable (leftovers, homecooked foods, open containers that say "refrigerate after opening", refrigerated tofu or soy milk, and any animal product (milk, eggs, meat,etc.)

2. Next use moderately perishable items such as leafy greens.

3. Then use items that last longer, such as hard, firm or uncut vegetables.

It's OK to keep some of the condiments in the fridge that don't spoil easily: soy sauce, ketchup, mustard.