8 tips for safe eating in the event of a power failure or warning of boiling water

Eating food after its expiration date or improperly storing perishable food are steps that most people know are necessary to prevent food-borne illness. However, if you don't have electricity or clean running water, it can be difficult to eat safely.

Food safety practices are difficult to follow when the daily norm has changed. We can generally rely on the ability to heat our food with our oven, cool our food in our freezer, and disinfect our dishes with clean, hot running water. It is not that easy to follow these steps in situations where water and electricity may not be available, such as: B. in natural disasters .

When we have adequate cooling or clean water, the risk of food- borne diseases increases. However, there are a few things you can do to stay nourished, hydrated, and safe.

Verywell asked experts to find out how to safely navigate the kitchen during a power outage or when clean water was running out.

Check the temperatures of your devices

"Make sure you have an appliance thermometer in your fridge and freezer," Bob Gravani, PhD , an expert at the Institute of Food Technologists and Professor of Food Science at Cornell University, told Verywell . Degrees Fahrenheit, and your freezer should be 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. ""

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), making sure the appliances in your home keep the right temperature can reduce the risk of harmful bacteria growing in your diet and potentially making you sick .

Know when to throw food

If the temperature in your fridge and freezer is not constant, you may need to remove some of the food inside. "When in doubt, throw it away," says Gravani. "If at any point the food is over 40 degrees Fahrenheit for two hours or more, throw it away."

Don't assume that heating questionable foods in the microwave or putting them in the oven will make them safer. Also, never try foods to decide whether they are safe to eat. Instead, rely on factors like temperature and storage time. Gravani warns that "eating food that is not stored at the correct temperature can cause disease, even if it is well cooked."

Generally, when in doubt that the food was stored safely, throw it away.

Check your pantry

"Times of crisis can often lead to empty shelves in grocery stores," said Verywell Mackenzie Burgess, a Colorado-based nutritionist and recipe developer at Cheerful Choices .

Your options may be limited to what you already have at home. However, that doesn't necessarily mean you don't have options. You may need to be creative. "Use non-perishable ingredients to make your own dry soup mix," says Burgess.

To make a soup that will satisfy six people and have 15 grams of vegetable protein per serving, Burgess recommends combining items you already have in your pantry: lentils, brown rice, peas and spices. To cook "Simmer in water or broth for 40 minutes to soften everything."

Plan your health needs

If you or someone in your household has special dietary needs, such as: For example, on a gluten-free diet to combat celiac disease, consider nutritional needs as you plan for a disaster . When treating a health problem like diabetes , it is important to plan your individual nutritional needs in advance during a time of crisis.

Toby Smithson, MS, RDN, LD, CDCES, FAND , author of Diabetes Meal Planning and Nutrition For Dummies , advises people with diabetes to have their blood sugar checked frequently to determine their eating habits.

"For example, if your blood sugar drops to 70 mg / dL or less, consider having a fast-acting carbohydrate snack like 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey," says Smithson. "And check back in 15 minutes to make sure your reading comes through." over 70 mg / dl. If your blood sugar levels are above 180 mg / dL, choose a low-carb food like canned tuna, or if your fridge is still running, cheese or a hard-boiled egg. ""

Smithson also recommends combining a source of carbohydrates with a source of protein at snack times and meals. For example whole grain cheese and crackers.

Don't put food outside

If the power goes out during a snow storm and it freezes outside (or less), the logical solution to your food storage problem could be to put the contents of your heated fridge and freezer on the porch or on a snow bench. However, this is not a safe solution.

"It is not recommended to store food outdoors in heavy snow as the sun's heat to thaw parts of the food without you notice it" , said Melissa Azzaro, RDN, LD , a nutritionist and author of A Balanced Approach to PCOS Verywell. "Also, storing food outside can often be unhealthy and can expose you to certain bacteria."

Instead, use a cooler to keep your frozen food store , and resist the urge to frequently open. "A full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours if the door is left closed," says Azzaro.

Keep things clean

Don't overlook the importance of washing pots, dishes, and utensils thoroughly with soap and water. Use hot water whenever possible. If you normally use a dishwasher, you can hand wash items by boiling them in clean water first. If you have a clue about boiling water, use chilled, boiled water to wash your kitchen.

If you cannot boil your water, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that you soak dishes and utensils in a solution of 1 tablespoon of non-perfumed liquid bleach per gallon of drinking water (or the cleanest, clearest water available) for 15 minutes.

Feed the little ones

If you are formulating and using a powder formula, make sure the water you are using is safe before you mix it. Make sure to boil the water and cool if it shows an indication of boiling water.) Do not mix baby food with anything other than water .

For babies who eat solid foods, keep in mind that a few days without fresh fruits and vegetables won't have much impact on your child's health. Options like canned bean puree, mild nut butters, and even canned tuna are safe and easy options.

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