The Silent Small Sentinel
What happens to the food in your fridges and freezers when you have a power blackout, a brownout or a door is left open?
When you find that there was a blackout, do you know for how long? What about the fridge door, was it left open over night or was it just from the first delivery this morning? The temperature gauge on the fridge says that the internal temperature is 10°C, how long has it been at that temperature? Worse still, you know there was a blackout, the freezer is back on and all the food is frozen, but there is also frozen water on the floor……is that food safe?
With Thermocron Temperature Logger inside your fridges and freezers they will continually read the temperature, even during the blackout, so that you will know exactly the temperature and the time even when you are not there.
Food safety guidelines say that many foods that have been stored over 5°C for more than 2 hours must be discarded.
|
FOOD |
Action if held over 5°C for more than 2 hours |
|
MEAT,POULTRY, SEAFOOD |
|
|
Raw or leftover cooked meat, poultry, fish, or seafood; soy meat substitutes |
Discard |
| Thawing meat or poultry |
Discard |
| Meat, tuna, shrimp,chicken, or egg salad |
Discard |
| Gravy, stuffing, broth |
Discard |
| Lunchmeats, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, dried beef |
Discard |
| Pizza – with any topping |
Discard |
| Canned hams labeled “Keep Refrigerated” |
Discard |
| Canned meats and fish, opened |
Discard |
| CHEESE | |
| Soft Cheeses: blue/bleu, Roquefort, Brie, Camembert, cottage, cream, Edam, Monterey Jack, ricotta, mozzarella, Muenster, Neufchatel, queso blanco, queso fresco |
Discard |
| Hard Cheeses: Cheddar, Colby, Swiss, Parmesan, provolone, Romano |
Safe |
| Processed Cheeses |
Safe |
| Shredded Cheeses |
Discard |
| Low-fat Cheeses |
Discard |
| Grated Parmesan, Romano, or combination (in can or jar) |
Safe |
| DAIRY | |
| Milk, cream, sour cream, buttermilk, evaporated milk, yogurt, eggnog, soy milk |
Discard |
| Butter, margarine |
Safe |
| Baby formula, opened |
Discard |
| EGGS | |
| Fresh eggs, hard-cooked in shell, egg dishes, egg products |
Discard |
| Custards and puddings |
Discard |
| CASSEROLES, SOUPS, STEWS |
Discard |
| FRUITS | |
| Fresh fruits, cut |
Discard |
| Fruit juices, opened |
Safe |
| Canned fruits, opened |
Safe |
| Fresh fruits, coconut, raisins, dried fruits, candied fruits, dates |
Safe |
| SAUCES, SPREADS, JAMS | |
| Opened mayonnaise, tartar sauce, horseradish |
Discard if above 10 °C for over 8 hrs. |
| Peanut butter |
Safe |
| Jelly, relish, taco sauce, mustard, catsup, olives, pickles |
Safe |
| Worcestershire, soy, barbecue, Hoisin sauces |
Safe |
| Fish sauces (oyster sauce) |
Discard |
| Opened vinegar-based dressings |
Safe |
| Opened creamy-based dressings |
Discard |
| Spaghetti sauce, opened jar |
Discard |
| BREAD, CAKES, COOKIES,PASTA, GRAINS | |
| Bread, rolls, cakes, muffins, quick breads, tortillas |
Safe |
| Refrigerator biscuits,rolls, cookie dough |
Discard |
| Cooked pasta, rice, potatoes |
Discard |
| Pasta salads with mayonnaise or vinaigrette |
Discard |
| Fresh pasta |
Discard |
| Cheesecake |
Discard |
| Breakfast foods –waffles, pancakes, bagels |
Safe |
| PIES, PASTRY | |
| Pastries, cream filled |
Discard |
| Pies – custard,cheese filled, or chiffon; quiche |
Discard |
| Pies, fruit |
Safe |
| VEGETABLES | |
| Fresh mushrooms, herbs, spices |
Safe |
| Greens, pre-cut, pre-washed, packaged |
Discard |
| Vegetables, raw |
Safe |
| Vegetables, cooked; tofu |
Discard |
| Vegetable juice, opened |
Discard |
| Baked potatoes |
Discard |
| Commercial garlic in oil |
Discard |
| Potato Salad |
Discard |
The Freezer poses a different problem
|
FOOD |
Still contains ice crystals and is less than 0°C |
Thawed. |
| MEAT, POULTRY, SEAFOOD | ||
| Beef, veal, lamb, pork, and ground meats |
Refreeze |
Discard |
| Poultry and ground poultry |
Refreeze |
Discard |
| Variety meats (liver, kidney, heart, chitterlings) |
Refreeze |
Discard |
| Casseroles, stews, soups |
Refreeze |
Discard |
| Fish, shellfish, breaded seafood products |
Refreeze. However, there will be some texture and flavour loss. |
Discard |
| DAIRY | ||
| Milk |
Refreeze. May lose some texture. |
Discard |
| Eggs (out of shell) and egg products |
Refreeze |
Discard |
| Ice cream, frozen yogurt |
Discard |
Discard |
| Cheese (soft and semi-soft) |
Refreeze. May lose some texture. |
Discard |
| Hard cheeses |
Refreeze |
Refreeze |
| Shredded cheeses |
Refreeze |
Discard |
| Casseroles containing milk, cream, eggs, soft cheeses |
Refreeze |
Discard |
| Cheesecake |
Refreeze |
Discard |
| FRUITS | ||
| Juices |
Refreeze |
Refreeze. Discard if mould, yeasty smell, or sliminess develops. |
| Home or commercially packaged |
Refreeze. Will change texture and flavour. |
Refreeze. Discard if mould, yeasty smell, or sliminess develops. |
| VEGETABLES | ||
| Juices |
Refreeze |
Discard after held above 4.5 °C for 6 hours. |
| Home or commercially packaged or blanched |
Refreeze. May suffer texture and flavour loss. |
Discard after held above 4.5 °C for 6 hours. |
| BREADS, PASTRIES | ||
| Breads, rolls, muffins, cakes (without custard fillings) |
Refreeze |
Refreeze |
| Cakes, pies, pastries with custard or cheese filling |
Refreeze |
Discard |
| Pie crusts, commercial and homemade bread dough |
Refreeze. Some quality loss may occur. |
Refreeze. Quality loss is considerable. |
| OTHER | ||
| Casseroles – pasta, rice based |
Refreeze |
Discard |
| Flour, cornmeal, nuts |
Refreeze |
Refreeze |
| Breakfast items –waffles, pancakes, bagels |
Refreeze |
Refreeze |
| Frozen meal, entree, specialty items (pizza, sausage and biscuit, meat pie,convenience foods) |
Refreeze |
Discard |
