Consuming
Thoughts
by
Fay Strickler
a enn State Extension Home
Economist For Berks Co.
If power fails during a winter
storm or if someone accidentally
unplugs the freezer or leaves the
freezer door ajar you may find
yourself with hundreds of dollars
worth of food that has thawed.
How can you minimize your
loss should this disaster strike?
You may not be able to use these
tips now, but keep them on hand
just in case:
• If you know that the power
has just been erupted, avoid that
first impluse to open the freezer
door.
When you let warm room air
into your freezer you’re cutting
the time the remaining food will
stay cold The time to open the
door to check food quality is when
the freezer is back in operation
and you expect that the power is
on to stay.
• Try to estimate the length of
time your freezer will be off.
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Watsontown, PA
ANDERSON
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1415 Main St.
Jacobus, PA 17407
1-800-457-5705
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RD 2, Box 160
Meadville, PA
MARSHALL
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Route 652, RR 4
Honesdale, PA
When the freezer stops running,
the power supply may be off or the
freezer itself may be out of order.
If the power is off, try to find out
from die electric utility that serves
you how long it will be off. If
power is expected to be out for
more than eight hours, you may
need to take steps to keep your
food from spoiling.
With the freezer closed, food in
a fully-loaded cabinet usually
stays frozen for two days; in a
cabinet with less than half a load,
it may not stay frozen for more
than a day. Bear in mind, also, that
a freezer full of meat or frozen liq
uids won’t warm up as fastas a
freezer full of bread and bakery
items.
• Keep freezer contents as cold
as possible and get dry ice if you
can.
If the power fails to return with
in a day or two, use dry ice to keep
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Oakland, MD
301-334-9060
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Rt. 213, PO Box 250
Galena, Md.
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the temperature below freezing
and to prevent deterioration or
spoilage of frozen food. If you
obtain dry ice soon after the power
has been interrupted, 25 pounds in
an almost full 10-cubic foot
cabinet should hold the tempera
ture below freezing for three to
four days; less than half a load
should keep for two to three days.
If you experience frequent,
long-lasting power failures in your
area, you might consider buying a
standby generator. Other possibil
ities: you may want to rent freezer
space from a commercial locker or
use a portion of a friend’s or rela
tive’s freezer space.
• Assess the damage to the
food.
Occasionally, frozen foods will
thaw partially or completely
before you discover the freezer
isn’t working. The important con
siderations in refreezing foods are
the temperature at which foods
thawed and how long they were
held after thawing.
You can safely refreeze frozen
foods that have thawed if they still
contain ice crystals. If foods have
been held at less than 35-40° F, no
longer than one or two days after
thawing, they are fit to use imme
diately. Foods warmed to 40° F or
higher fa* over two hours should
be thrown out —cxcxept for hard
cheeses, fruits or fruit juices,
baked goods, flour and nuts.
Check these foods carefully, how-
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Bonnville, NY
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ever, for any signs of spoilage.
Even partial thawing and
refreezing reduces the quality of
most foods. Foods frozen and
thawed require the same care as
foods that have never been frozen.
Do use thawed foods as quickly as
possible.
You can safely refreeze meat,
poultry and seafood if these items
still contain ice crystals and feel as
cold as they would be under
refrigeration. Be sure tp examine
each package carefully, and,
remember, when in doubt throw it
out
• Refreeze " safe" food quickly.
The faster refreezing occurs,
the safer the product and the better
the quality. If there is any question
about the integrity of the wrap,
rewrap.
Thawing and refreezing will
diminish the, eating quality of
most food. Freezer bum becomes
...maditbimt
Contact your
nearest dealer.
SOLLENBERGER SILO SOMERSET BARN BRENNER DAIRY
EQUIPMENT EOU/PMEN7
717*264-9588 Somaraat, PA Spartanaburg, PA
814-445-5555 814-654-7309
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Willow St, PA
717-786-7654
DETWILER SILO LANCASTER SILO
Nawvllla, PA Lancaatar, PA Sorlno uil pa
717-776-6321 717-299-3721 814-422-8279
FICK i S .m L ?A Ca MeM,LL J£™?™ RS CEDAR^ S l EQUIP
717-7703129 717-789-3961 717-270-6600
Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, January 28, 1995-B3
more likely when food has thawed
and is subsequently refrozen;
“burned” portions should be cut
away before further preparation
takes place. To compensate for
quality deterioration in safety
refrozen foods (quality changes
may include both mushiness and
hot food toughness), use moist
heat cooking methods like stewing
or braising, or incorporate these
items into soups or casseroles.
To refreeze food at home, turn
the adjustable temperature control
to its coldest position. When the
current comes on again, the freez
er will ran continuously and food
will freeze more quickly. Pile the
food so air can circulatre around
the packages.
It’s safest to put no more unfro
zen food in the home freezer than
will freeze within 24 hours. Over
loading slows down the rate of
freezing, and foods that freeze too
slowly may lose quality.
ROPE IN
SOME EXTRA #«
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Phone: 717-394-3047 *
or 717-626-1164
P O. Box 11 • Lake Mills. Wl 53531
GNEGY SURGE
HOOVER EQUIPMENT SERVICE
Tyrone, PA Washington, PA
814-684-1777 412-222-0444
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(414) 646*6370