01/21/2026
❄️ Milk and bread have entered the chat ❄️
Big winter storm headed our way this weekend, and power outages are likely. A little prep goes a long way.
🥶 Food safety during a power outage
• Keep fridge and freezer doors closed
• Fridge stays cold about 4 hours
• Full freezer stays frozen about 48 hours, 24 if half full
• If food hits 40°F for more than 2 hours, it is not safe
• When in doubt, throw it out
⛄ Using the great outdoors as backup cold storage
• Outdoor temps below 32°F can work short-term
• Store food in a sealed cooler or bin
• Keep food off snow and ice
• Protect from animals
• Check temps before bringing food back inside
🥛 What usually has to go
• Meat, poultry, seafood, milk, soft cheeses, leftovers if warmed
• Ice cream that thawed and refroze
• Condiments and hard cheeses are typically fine
💧 Food and water basics
• 1 gallon of water per person per day
• Plan for at least 3 days, ideally 5 to 7
• Shelf-stable foods + manual can opener
⚡ Protect your appliances
• Unplug major appliances during outages
• Leave one light on to know when power returns
• Wait 10 to 15 minutes before plugging appliances back in
• Plug refrigerators and freezers in first to avoid surge damage
🧊 Extra cold-keeping tips
• Group frozen items together
• Freeze water bottles ahead of time
• Keep a thermometer in fridge and freezer
Stay warm, stay safe, and let the milk enjoy its snow day responsibly 🥛❄️
