A broken refrigerator is one of the most devastating appliance problems you can face in your house. This is because there are lots of perishable food items at risk. Finding a quick solution to this problem will involve contacting your trusted fridge repair expert. For Canadians, EZFix Appliance Repair offers these services at a good price.
However, the question remains; what is the fate of your food items pending the fridge repair technician’s arrival? Knowing how to keep your food cold when your fridge breaks down will save you a lot of money and keep you fed for days or months. Below are some food preservation tips to keep in mind while you wait.
Pack a cooler
Coolers allow you to keep things like drinks cool for hours before they lose their temperature. You may want to consider packing a cooler if you’ve contacted a refrigerator repair technician and are sure they’ll be with you in a couple of hours.
One of the great advantages of using high-quality coolers is that they can hold the cool temperature for between 2 to 3 days. This gives your refrigerator repairman the time to come in, remove the broken part, and repair any damages.
Get some dry ice or ice packs and layer in between the food if your refrigerator repairman will require more time to get the parts needed for the repair. Ensure that the cooler is also kept in a cool and dry place to further increase its efficiency.
Use your freezer
Refrigerators are great for keeping perishable items at a low temperature to slow down the spoilage process. Your freezer can do the same job when your refrigerator breaks down. To use your freezer, ensure that all food items are moved in at once and stay away from opening the freezer at intervals to check on the newly added items.
Use sand preservation
Sand as a means of preservation can also be used as a last resort. For this method, get some sand and fill up your crisper drawers. Bury your fruits and root vegetables in the sand overnight while you wait for your fridge repair contractor.
Please note that this method does not guarantee long-term preservation and should be used only as a last resort, that is, when you do not have a functioning freezer, cooler, or other means of cooling your refrigerated items.
Keeping your fridge cold without power
Sometimes, the problem with your refrigerator isn’t tied to any of its part’s wear or tear. It could sometimes be due to a power outage. A prolonged power outage can affect your refrigerator’s cooling process, and this puts your perishable food items at risk. Below are some tips to help you keep your fridge cold during prolonged power outages.
Avoid opening fridge doors
Opening your fridge’s doors allows cool air to escape from it. The dilution process between the fridge’s interior and your home’s interior can cause the cool air to fade faster. A great way to keep the fridge cool is to avoid opening it. By leaving it closed, you can trap the cold air inside for as long as possible while waiting for power restoration or an alternative energy source.
Get lots of ice
You can keep your refrigerator cool by adding dry ice inside it when the power goes out for a prolonged time. The dry ice is perfect for maintaining the refrigerator’s interior temperature while cooling items stored in it. Please be advised that the dry ice to be used should be layered around your fruits and vegetables for maximum impact.
Group items close together
You can combine the use of dry ice with item grouping to ensure the best outcomes. Group the non-perishable food items at the base and the perishable ones on top. Ensure that the perishable food items are closest to the dry ice to keep them fresh while you wait for power restoration.
If you have lots of meat and meat products in your refrigerator, keep them close together and ensure that they are properly packed to avoid thawing into other items.
Dispose of food items with the closest expiry date if you’re unsure when your repair man will show up or are dealing with prolonged power loss with no backup power source. This reduces the amount of food in the refrigerator and improves the chances of preserving the few remaining food items.
When dealing with a damaged refrigerator, you need a qualified and professional repairman you can trust to show up when promised. Start searching for your emergency refrigerator repair expert now if you don’t already have one.