Freezer been switched off / door left open - will food be ok?

jexygirl

Heya,
I think its 24 hours min, as already stated, and provided you dont open it, so tape it shut!
It also - as stated, depends on how full it is - but common sense always prevails, if stuff still feels ok and temps out ok with a thermometer, then it will be fine imo. The main thing is to unplug it last, and plug it in first i guess
Jex

esmf73

Hi, I've done this with many moves! Removals pick up one day (and freezer is usually first on!) and then drop off another day. Plus the time needed for the freezer to stand before turning it on. I've never found a problem - I make sure that the freezer is full before turning it off - even if it is reduced priced bread! It will all be used eventually.

csarina

Thanks for the info, its not a large chest freezer but a meduim sized one, they should be able to lift it with a trolley.

As a previous poster says it is a pack and load, journey up and then unload, moving from the east midlands to East Lothian in Scotland. Its possible we may get a return load with a Scottish remover as we are flexible date wise, in which case it will be afternoon load and probably next day off load late afternoon.

I have a fridge freezer in the kitchen and whats left in there will be going into the chest freezer. it is about 3/4 full just now, but I can easily fill it with bread from Aldi, will make sure it is taped shut we have several reels of duct tape which should do the job nicely.

Kit_Kat_Kate

Hi, my DH left the freezer door ajar last night. The food still is frozen but there is ice all over the food! Is this food ok to cook and eat? I have loads of babyfood stored in there, so worried about that it will be ok? thanks.

horsechestnut

As long as the food is still frozen then it is quite safe to eat.

Glad

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Penelope_Penguin

Kit_Kat_Kate wrote: »

Hi, my DH left the freezer door ajar last night. The food still is frozen but there is ice all over the food! Is this food ok to cook and eat? I have loads of babyfood stored in there, so worried about that it will be ok? thanks.

You're not the first Take a look at this thread (I'll merge this later to keep ideas together). As long as the food hasn;t defrosted, it'll be fine. If it has defrosted, cook it and it can then be refrozen :j

Penny. x

sunshinesheli

Hi guys,
I have recently moved in with my partner and another couple, and we have bought cheap and frozen a number of items - mainly meats and bread and milk.

I commute a fair distance so stay away from home on a Monday and Tuesday night, and have just been told that our whole street has had a power cut and the power has been off from at least 7.30am this morning.

We really can't afford to throw away / replace all the food we have in the freezer, but having never experienced anything like this before I/we have no idea what to do.

Can anyone give us any advice? Would we be able to re-freeze if we cooked the meat, or would that be just as bad as re-freezing the thawed out raw meat? (which I DO know is a no-no!)

Not a great start to our big move :eek:

Thanks xx

jinky67

The stuff should stay frozen for a good few hours in the freezer with the door shut anyway. SO it might not be a problem anyway.

I have safely refrozen bread after it has been defrosted.

Wouldnt refreeze the milk though, but since that tends to be a solid lump anyway, it should take hours to defrost

Any meat that does defrost can be safely cooked and then refrozen:D

BitterAndTwisted

As Jinky67 says: if the freezer is kept closed then the food should take quite a long time to completely defrost so your frozen goodies might be all right. It all depends on how long the power-cut lasts but ask your house-mates to leave the freezer be and to resist the temptation to keep opening it up and checking.