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My freezer has been switched off - help

(22 Posts)
kittylester Sat 15-Feb-20 10:19:45

We have had plumbers here changing the boiler and they have inadvertently turned off the electric supply to the garage and thus the outside freezer.

Luckily, I haven't opened the freezer since they left so can anyone tell me if the stuff inside will still be ok?

Callistemon Sat 15-Feb-20 10:21:07

How long has it been off?

Callistemon Sat 15-Feb-20 10:24:43

Should be ok for about 24 hours, otherwise does your house insurance cover the contents?

It's going to be wet and windy this weekend, kitty, it could be a good weekend for a cooking session ...
Saturday Morning Kitchen at Kitty's.

I'll just duck and run for cover

Chewbacca Sat 15-Feb-20 10:34:36

I had the exact same situation a couple of years ago and only discovered it had been off after 24 hours. Everything had defrosted so I threw out all ice cream, fish and sea food and did a massive batch cook to use up the meat and as many vegetables as I could. I roasted any joints of meat, cooled them and the double wrapped in foil and froze them. Same with casseroles and stews. I checked if I could claim on my insurance but the excess I had made it futile to make a claim considering the relatively small amount I had to throw away. Good luck!

Teacheranne Sat 15-Feb-20 10:42:52

Years ago my son switched off my big chest freezer, he was only a toddler and saw the red light! I realised after about 24 hours and didn't open the door but phoned my sister, a store manager for a large chain of supermarkets. She told me not to worry, just switch it on again on the boost mode as where she worked they regularly sold food that had been defrosted! I did however make sure everything was very thoroughly cooked before we ate it.

It was a long time ago as i assume current regulations would stop shops doing this. But I wonder when I think about the times I've found my frozen veg in a solid block!

Callistemon Sat 15-Feb-20 10:44:03

It is in a garage and the weather is relatively cold.

I would be careful of icecream, seafood and any readymade dishes, but the only thing to do is to check before it starts freezing solid again.

EMMF1948 Sat 15-Feb-20 10:47:32

If it's fairly full it should be OK after 24 hours, especially in this weather. Ice cream may need eating/drinking quickly though.
In the '70s when we had scheduled power cuts we were advised to keep the freezer full, even if it meant buying a load of bread to fill the space, to stop it defrosting.

kittylester Sat 15-Feb-20 10:51:37

We have a small freezer in there as well so I opened that and checked in there. The only thing that was thawed was a loaf of bread so I opened the other one which was beeping away. Everything is still solid. Phew.

callistemon I am cooking a plant based brunch in an hour or so - that's going to be stressful enough!! grin

Thank you all.

kittylester Sat 15-Feb-20 10:52:53

Might have to throw the emergency Magnums away!sad

Callistemon Sat 15-Feb-20 10:54:32

A plant based brunch!!

Not even a fried egg?!!

kittylester Sat 15-Feb-20 13:22:56

Everyone else had a normal fry up but DS2 had baked beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, sweet potato waffles and some sort of plant sausages. I was dying to do him an egg as well!! Eggs are the one thing I cant get my head round!!

Callistemon Sat 15-Feb-20 13:53:41

I've had a veggie fry up but without any faux bacon or sausages!

kittylester Sat 15-Feb-20 13:57:24

He said the sausages were really nice.confused

dragonfly46 Sat 15-Feb-20 15:00:16

Which sausages were they * kitty*. I am trying to eat more plant based food. I have also just discovered that Sainsburys sell Naked Sausages as well as Naked Bacon which doesn’t contain phosphates.

kittylester Sat 15-Feb-20 15:22:08

I'll ask him. He took the unused ones home.

vegansrock Sat 15-Feb-20 15:35:51

The mushroom sausages I think they are called shrooms from Sainsburys are the best veggie sausages.

kittylester Sat 15-Feb-20 15:43:20

I think that's what they were!"

phoenix Sat 15-Feb-20 16:50:06

If everyone went vegan we'd be in a right old mess.

kittylester Sat 15-Feb-20 17:15:29

It's ok phienix, I wont be going vegan!

BradfordLass73 Sat 15-Feb-20 19:13:06

kittylester I had to laugh at this image.

Eggs are the one thing I cant get my head round

kittylester Sat 15-Feb-20 20:02:08

grin I'm sure you got my meaning though!

Callistemon Sat 15-Feb-20 20:47:36

I used an egg as conditioner for my hair many years ago.

It scrambled when I rinsed it.