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Power cut, Freezer safety.

(15 Posts)
Nandalot Wed 31-Jul-24 22:12:31

We are on holiday and a neighbour has let us know that we have a power cut at home. It started at 6.45 and at the moment they are estimating that it will be on again t midnight.
Obviously no one has opened the door, but will the food be safe. Obviously we are not at home to give it a ‘squeeze’ when the power comes on to check if the food is okay. Ha anyone experienced. Power cut of this length? Any advice? Thanks.

SueDonim Wed 31-Jul-24 22:16:30

6:45 am or pm? What’s the outside temperature where your house is? If it went off at 6.46pm and is back by midnight id think it was ok. If it has been since this morning, I’d be warier.

Aldom Wed 31-Jul-24 22:20:25

I've just Googled this and the information is a full freezer is safe for 48 hours. Half full 24 hours. There's more information available online.
Hope this helps.

Salti Thu 01-Aug-24 10:18:27

No use for today, but for future use I always used to make ice cubes and put them into a jug or glass and stand it in the freezer if I was going away. If the remained as ice cubes, no problem. A solid jug of water. Catastrophe!

Nandalot Thu 01-Aug-24 18:09:56

That’s a brilliant idea,*Salti*! 6pm so hopefully freezer okay though will have to throw out on fridge bits to be on the safe side.

Nandalot Thu 01-Aug-24 18:12:31

Thanks for all the responses.

Aldom Thu 01-Aug-24 18:21:00

Salti thank you for such a useful tip.

MayBee70 Thu 01-Aug-24 20:52:54

I read that you need to freeze some water and put a coin on top. If the coin is still at the top after a power cut the food is ok. Of course. I always forget to do it!

N4nna Sat 03-Aug-24 14:01:20

Loving the tips - brilliant, thank you 😄

queenofsaanich69 Sat 03-Aug-24 16:20:44

Thanks for that advice,I always wondered what happens if we go away.

BlueBelle Sat 03-Aug-24 16:54:23

I always believed it to be 48 hours…. it ll be fine

jocork Sat 03-Aug-24 18:31:11

I once had my electricity go off while on holiday. It wasn't a normal power cut which comes back on - something tripped our supply! I knew roughly when it had gone off by which video programmes had recorded! Sadly it was the day after we left for a week! The whole freezer and fridge freezer had thawed and the floor was soaked with foul smelling liquid by the time we got home. Not an experience I'd want to relive!

I now have an alarm system that notifies me if the electricity goes off and I leave a key with someone so they can go in and reset it if that happens again.

Azalea99 Sat 03-Aug-24 22:30:51

Grrrr how can I start a completely new thread?

petra Sat 03-Aug-24 22:45:37

Azalea99

Grrrr how can I start a completely new thread?

Click Forums
Click on the subject you want.
Near the top of this page you will see start a new discussion click that.

TwinLolly Sun 04-Aug-24 08:19:31

DH was working away for 12 weeks and I was allowed to join him for the last 6 weeks.

Usually we do empty the fridge and freezer completely when we go away, and switch them off, but I totally forgot to do so at that time.

When we got back the freezer and fridge contents were galloping out of the door. The stench was brutal 🤢. A thunderstorm had caused the mains to cut out. Our poor neighbours had tried to re-set the trip swich but we had given them the wrong newly cut door key! blush

It took us weeks to get rid of the stench. DH had to dismantle and rebuild the newly made surrounds (fridge and freezer go under a countertop). We didn't want to get rid of the fridge and freezer because they were new!