As a vegan, you sometimes have to take special precautions with how you store your food. Depending on what it is, it might spoil faster than foods that contain animal products in them, especially during a prolonged outage. Use these eight tips to keep your vegan food safe during a power outage.
1. Stay Informed About Outages
Keeping your vegan food safe involves checking your utility company’s power outage map. Utility companies often provide information to customers about local outages.
Check your provider’s website, particularly during stormy weather, to find out what neighborhoods are without power. Take precautions to keep your food safe accordingly.
2. Stock Up on Ice Packs
Ice packs go a long way to keeping your vegan food safe during a power outage. They slow down the warming process for frozen foods.
They also keep beverages that should stay cold chilled until the power comes back on. Stock up on and keep ice packs in your freezer to use during this type of emergency.
3. Freeze Water Bottles
If you cannot find ice packs at your local big box retailers, freeze some water bottles. Frozen bottles of water serve just as well to keep your cold food. Use them in place of ice packs to keep frozen foods cold until the utility provider restores your power.
4. Keep Your Fridge Closed
During a power outage, you might be tempted to keep checking the fridge and freezer to ensure your food is safe. However, opening the door frequently lets in warm air from the kitchen.
That warm air then thaws out or warms up your food. Keep the door closed as much as possible until your power is back on.
5. Use a Cooler for Perishable Items
Use a cooler packed with ice to keep perishable items frozen or cold. A cooler can readily take the place of your fridge or freezer during a prolonged power outage. Check and refill the ice in it as needed.
6. Freeze Key Items in Advance
Freeze some of your vegan food in advance to prepare for power outages. The foods you can freeze ahead of time include tofu, bread, plant-based milk, and prepared meals.
This idea comes in useful if you live in a storm-prone area that loses power frequently. You avoid the worry of not having food on hand or food spoiling because your fridge gets too hot.
7. Have Shelf-Stable Alternatives on Hand
Keep some shelf-stable alternatives on hand so you do not have to rely solely on frozen or refrigerated foods during outages. These alternatives include nut butters, canned beans, quick oats, and plant-based protein powders.
8. Check the Food’s Temperature
Check the temperature of the food you consume after a power outage. Make sure any frozen or refrigerated foods are below 40 degrees Fahrenheit before you eat or drink them.
If they are above that temperature, they could contain harmful bacteria that make you sick. Dispose of any food that has gotten too warm to consume safely.
These tips will help you keep your vegan food safe during a power outage. They also prevent you from consuming food that has potentially spoiled and could make you sick.
