In this day and age, most people have a fridge and/or a freezer in order to store food. It is also common for food to be stored incorrectly or for longer than it is supposed to be. In order to keep food safe to consume, one must be knowledgeable on not only how to store food, but also how long it lasts for. A lot of food spoil easily, such as milk or dairy products, when they are kept below a certain temperature for too long. Also, foods such as fresh fruits or veggies are easily spoilable when kept for too long. An easy way to ensure your food stays fresh longer is to package/seal it in airtight containers or zip lock bags. Doing this helps to prevent microorganisms, mostly bacteria, from getting to the food. Another problem we have to contend with in regard to food storage is the trouble of power outages. Electricity powers the cooling systems within fridges and freezers, so when the power goes out so does the cooling system. The simplest way to ensure your food stays cold is to keep the doors to the fridge and freezer closed during a power outage. This prevents the cold air from escaping and keeps the food safe longer. After a power outage, even if it is only out for a few hours, always check the food stored in your fridge/freezer. Make sure the temp of the food has not dropped below 40°F, and if it has check to make sure the food has not spoiled and be prepared to throw it out if it has. Below are a couple of websites with more information on food storage, what to do with food during/after a power outage, and how long to keep certain foods. I also included a website with a tip on how to make sure your freezer is safe. www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/cooking/tips/a25129/food-storage-freshness/ http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/cooking/tips/a25202/food-fridge-infographic/ http://chfs.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/E5ADB3D5-6E6C-4633-8714-960A1BDD4EFB/0/PowerOutage.pdf http://en.newsner.com/why-you-should-always-put-a-coin-in-the-freezer-before-you-leave-home/about/taste,life-haks,tricks
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AuthorMy name is Erica. This blog is a part of my Girl Scout Gold Award project. Archives
April 2017
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