SHAWANO, WI – With recent winter storms causing scattered power outages across the region, Shawano–Menominee Counties Health Director Nick Mau is reminding residents to stay mindful of food safety if their electricity goes out.
Mau says there’s no need to panic right away, noting that a closed refrigerator can keep food safely cold for about four hours. If the power does go out, he recommends using perishable items from the fridge first before relying on anything stored in the freezer.
However, if the outage lasts a full day or longer, Mau says families should take additional precautions to prevent food from spoiling. “You may want to start preparing a cooler with ice,” he said. “This time of year, you can even pack it with snow to keep it cold and move some of your frozen goods.”
Mau adds that when an outage stretches on longer than expected, it’s important to keep food chilled with ice and only prepare it when you’re ready to cook it.
Health officials say following these steps can help avoid illness and reduce food waste during winter power interruptions.
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