No one ever wants to hear that telltale sound of a refrigerator motor or compressor conking out. When a fridge stops working it can be a mad dash to salvage the contents. Time is not on your side. You may have about 4 hours that the fridge will stay cool and a couple more hours for the freezer. Remember that your fridge and freezer are like giant ice chests. Here are a few tips for saving food when a fridge breaks down.
Ice, Ice, and More Ice
If you have ever experienced a power outage, you might already know that having ice on hand can be a temporary lifesaver. Make extra ice and keep it in sealable plastic bags in the freezer for emergencies. The ice will help maintain the temperature in the freezer and refrigerator while you figure out the next steps. The plastic bags will keep the ice from ruining food as it melts. In the meantime, make a trip to your local convenience mart to grab some more ice and perhaps an inexpensive cooler to bring it home in. Once home, fill the crisper drawers of the fridge with ice.
Keep the Doors Closed
Before you make a plan of action, take a good look at the inventory inside both the refrigerator and freezer. Figure out which perishables will go bad first, such as fresh meat, fish, dairy, and frozen fruits and vegetables. Close the doors and write down how you will tackle saving and consuming the fridge contents. Leave the doors closed while you do this. Every time you open the doors, you are encouraging the temperature inside to warm up. Making a plan while the doors are sealed will buy you some time.
Pack a Cooler
Having a cooler or ice chest on hand is a good idea. As the refrigerator starts to warm up, fill the bottom of a cooler with ice in plastic bags or a layer of ice packs. Top that with a layer of frozen food. Add more ice. Then, place non-frozen items on the top layer. You will have to make another trip to get more ice at some point.
Ask a Neighbor
If you are fortunate to have neighbors that you are friendly with, don’t be shy about asking if you can store a few items in their refrigerator. Things like milk, eggs, and protein won’t take up too much room and will save you some money.
Cook, Eat, Donate
Once you have a plan of action in place, start eating your way through the fridge until you can get it repaired or replaced by a High End Service company. There is no reason to stuff yourself, but you can extend the life of some foods by cooking or dehydrating them. For instance, you can preserve meat and fish by making jerky in your oven or air fryer or by cooking them in a smoker. You can hard boil eggs and pickle them. Fruits and vegetables should be eaten as soon as possible while still fresh. Some food is bound to go bad. If possible, give it away before that happens. Local food banks will gladly accept donations of foods that are properly sealed in original packages, such as applesauce, unopened jams and nut butter, and shelf-stable beverages.
A broken fridge is definitely not fun and can cost a pretty penny in food waste and appliance repairs. Aside from all the tips here, take a few deep breaths and try to find something positive about the experience. This is an opportunity to get rid of anything that has expired and a chance to really clean the fridge if it is repairable. It also can give you some motivation to make some fun meals with the food that has been sitting in the back of your freezer. In fact, invite friends and family over for a feast. Try to make the best out of an otherwise unfortunate situation.
Add Comment