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How To Prevent Food Spoilage During Hurricane Season

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If you live in an area that is heavily affected by hurricanes, you might be nervous about the upcoming hurricane season. Among other things, you could be concerned about your family's food spoiling during a hurricane-related power outage. Luckily, there are a few things that you can do to help prevent food waste.

Eat Down Your Perishables

In the days before a hurricane is expected to strike, it's a good idea for you and your family to eat down the meats and dairy products in your refrigerator so that you don't have to worry about them spoiling. Instead, stock up on foods that will not perish during a power outage, such as canned foods.

Stock Your Freezer With Jugs of Water

Consider filling up empty jugs of water and stashing them in your freezer with your food. This can help you keep food frozen for much longer because your freezer will stay cold longer. Plus, you can keep this water as part of your emergency stash for your family.

Keep Your Refrigerator Closed

Keep your refrigerator door closed as much as possible during the power outage; this will help keep foods cold for as long as possible. Although some foods will need to be thrown away after two hours, some will last as long as four hours after the power goes out as long as your refrigerator door is kept closed. Before a hurricane strikes, check your refrigerator's door seal to ensure that it doesn't need to be replaced.

Cook What You Can

If it is safe to do so, you can cook any foods that you think might spoil as soon as possible. If you have an outdoor grill and it's safe to go outside, you can use it to prepare food. You can also do so if you have a gas-powered stove. Then you and your family can eat well while you are waiting for your power to return, and you don't have to worry about your food going bad.

Consider Investing in a Generator

One excellent option is to invest in a generator. Generators come in all different sizes and price ranges--there are some that are small and that can only be used to power your refrigerator and a few lights in your home, there are whole-house systems that will power your home much like electricity normally does, and there are systems that are sized in-between. Consider talking to a professional about your budgets and your options so that you and your family can stay comfortable during hurricane season and so that you can prevent your food from spoiling. For more information about generators, contact a local HVAC contractor such as Childers Enterprises Inc

There are a lot of things to worry about during hurricane season, including the spoilage of your family's food. Luckily, following these tips can help you prevent from losing too much food during this tough time. Then, you can focus on otherwise protecting yourself and your family from the upcoming storms.


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