newjerseynewsroom.com

BY JANE WOODRUFF

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

With New Jersey residents facing a potential power outage of several days, keeping your food safe can be tricky.

A full freezer will keep its cold temperature for 48 hours, one that is half full will last 24 hours. The USDA has a fact sheet to give you guidelines about what is safe and what needs to be discarded.

The number one rule is NEVER taste food to see if it is safe. Meat, fish, poultry and eggs should be kept at or below 40°F and frozen food at or below 0°F. If frozen food has started to thaw, it can sometimes be re-frozen. If it still contains ice crystals and feels cold, it is probably OK. Check with the fact sheet referenced above to make sure.

Breads, bagels, etc., can be refrozen even if fully thawed.

If your refrigerator is over 40°F for more than two hours, you should throw out cold cuts, meats, seafood (whether cooked or raw), soft cheeses, and eggs. Milk should also be discarded.

Keep your refrigerator door closed as much as possible. If the power goes out, and the door remains closed, the food will be safe for four hours. Any food that you do cook should be prepared to the proper temperature.

Bacteria in food can be a serious issue. If you are unsure about a certain food follow the old adage, "When it doubt, throw it out."