Power cut, Freezer safety.

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!

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!

Azalea99

Grrrr how can I start a completely new thread?

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Grrrr how can I start a completely new thread?

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.

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

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

Loving the tips - brilliant, thank you 😄

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!

Salti thank you for such a useful tip.

Thanks for all the responses.

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.

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!

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.

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.