GREENSBORO, NC – The power is probably going to go out as Hurricane Florence makes its way across North Carolina.
So, will insurance pay for your losses and when is it okay to eat the food left in the fridge or the freezer?
Insurance & Food Loss: Many homeowners policies will reimburse for food lost, but it's usually $500 and you have to pay your deductible first, so make sure it’s worth it.
The Coin & Cup Trick: What you want is a frozen mug of water with a penny on top in your freezer. If the penny stays on top after an outage-- you know your food never defrosted and refroze.
But if your power goes out and your food fully thawed and then refreezes, which could lead to food poisoning, the penny will have dropped to the bottom of the cup.
This trick isn't just good for storms--it's good for anytime you leave the house on a trip.
An Audit Of Your Fridge: Once the power is back on and you're doing an audit of your refrigerator, the Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services want you to keep these food safety tips in mind:
Never taste food to see if it is safe!
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperatures.
Food kept in a closed refrigerator should last for about four hours if the door remains closed. (Note: All refrigerators should have a thermometer to regularly check food temperatures. All refrigerated foods should be kept at 40 ̊F or lower).
In the event of an extended power outage, store refrigerated foods in an ice-filled cooler.
Refrigerated perishable food such as poultry, fish, meat, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, deli items and leftovers should be discarded after four hours without power.
A full freezer will hold the temperature and keep food frozen for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if half full).
If the power has been out for several days, the temperature of the freezer should be checked with an appliance or food thermometer. Food may be safely eaten or refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40 ̊F or lower.
“When in doubt, throw it out.”
