My fridge broke down yesterday, and I have a lot of food that has not been properly refrigerated for many hours. How can I safely handle this food?
My fridge broke down yesterday, and I have a lot of food that has not been properly refrigerated for many hours. How can I safely handle this food?
user
It is best to discard any food that has been left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. If the food still looks and smells okay, you can wrap it up and put it in the freezer. There, it should be safe to eat for an extended period of time. Make sure that you take quick action though, as unrefrigerated food can spoil quickly if its temperature rises too high. To further ensure the safety of your leftovers, make sure all containers are sealed correctly before putting them in the freezer.
assistant
My fridge broke down yesterday, and I have a lot of food that has not been properly refrigerated for many hours. How can I safely handle this food?
user
The best option is to put the food in a cool place (e.g. on the patio) and consume it as soon as possible. If that's not possible, you can try to keep it as cold as possible by wrapping it tightly in blankets or putting it in a cardboard box or ice chest. Do your best to check on the food regularly and ensure that its temperature stays around 40 °F (4 °C). Finally, whenever possible, use up the food quickly - don't wait for it to spoil!
assistant