The Small Appliance Gadget You'll Want In The Freezer During A Storm - Tasting Table

"We've all been there. There's torrential rain, thunder, and lightning, and inevitably, you've just done the biggest grocery shop of the month when the lights flicker off. Your fridge and freezer are suddenly ticking time bombs. In these cases, you need to know what to do with frozen foods when your power goes out. But there's a surefire way to know whether your food is still being kept at a safe temperature or not - an appliance thermometer."

"They're cheap, easy to pop into your fridge and freezer, and worth it for the peace of mind it provides. A 2-Pack of Analog Refrigerator Freezer Thermometers will run you just under $7 on Amazon. According to the USDA, you should place an appliance thermometer between food packages in your freezer and wait five to eight hours for the most accurate temperature reading."

"This brings us to our next point: While they are extremely helpful in a storm to gauge whether or not your food is still safe, appliance thermometers can and should be used at all times. You could use something like the quarter trick to tell if your food is safe after a power outage, but wouldn't you rather rely on the certainty a thermometer provides?"

Appliance thermometers provide a surefire way to determine whether refrigerated or frozen foods are being kept at safe temperatures during power outages. They are inexpensive, simple to place in refrigerators and freezers, and provide peace of mind. Place a freezer thermometer between food packages and wait five to eight hours for the most accurate reading. Place a refrigerator thermometer in a glass of water in the middle of the fridge for best results. Use thermometers continuously, not just during storms, rather than relying on indirect tricks like the quarter test. Freezers should be 0°F or below; refrigerators should be about 38–40°F.

Read at Tasting Table