April showers bring May flowers, but they can also bring downed power lines and high-speed winds! Depending on your location, you may associate spring storms with thunder, lightning, and hail rather than a light scattering of raindrops. If you run a commercial kitchen,
you must be ready for anything, including sudden power outages. When storms or flooding cause a loss of power, it’s important to have a plan in place to preserve food in refrigerators and freezers. Here are a few points to keep in mind as you prepare for an unexpected power loss.
1. Remember that commercial refrigerators will stay cold for an extended period of time.
The good news about commercial refrigerators and freezers is that they warm up very slowly if they’re large enough. If you have a power outage that lasts just a few hours, it’s likely the food inside the equipment will stay at a safe temperature, especially if the door is not opened during the outage. For home refrigerators,
the FDA advises consumers that food will likely stay safe for up to 4 hours
in a closed refrigerator with no power. Since commercial equipment is larger and colder than home refrigerators, the interior temp will stay below 40℉ for several hours longer. Commercial freezers can stay cold even longer—up to 3 days. The key is to keep doors closed and monitor temps to ensure storage temps are safe.
2. Throw out food when it has been at 40 degrees for over two hours.
When in doubt, use a meat thermometer to determine food temperature after a power outage. Anything below 40℉ can be refrozen or kept in the refrigerator and used normally. However, any food above 40℉ is recommended by the
Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
to be tossed out. Obviously, these guidelines are most important for meat, eggs, stocks, and sauces. Whole vegetables and whole fruit can likely be used safely even after a longer outage, although cut fruit and vegetables should be discarded.
3. Cook any meat immediately rather than throwing it out.
If your gas range and oven are still functional, it may be possible to cook some of the meat in your commercial refrigerator
if the thermostat rises above 40℉. The cooked meat will need to be refrigerated or frozen after two hours, but if power is restored during those two hours after cooking, you can save product that you would have otherwise thrown out.
4. Ask a nearby restaurant to “borrow” their cold storage.
If the power outage is only in your building or on your side of the street, you may be able to “borrow” refrigerator or freezer space from a nearby commercial kitchen. Many kitchen managers in the industry build strong relationships, even with competitors. In the event of an emergency, it’s time to lean on those professional connections. Call or text other commercial kitchens to see if they have space to store refrigerated or frozen goods. Other restaurants or large organizations know the cost of losing inventory, and they’re likely to lend a helping hand in times of trouble.
5. Rent a refrigerated truck.
Renting a refrigerated truck is typically used for walk-in cooler and freezer rebuilds, but it is a good ”last” option when the power is down. Although working out of a truck is difficult, there is no concern over temp loss when opening and closing doors on refrigeration equipment that is not running.
Helping You Keep Your Commercial Kitchens Safe at All Times
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