During a power outage, it can be hard to maintain temperature levels in your fridge. And it becomes even harder when the outage is prolonged. But did you know there are ways you can extend the freshness of your perishables for hours or days? Well, this article provides practical tips to keep your fridge running during a power outage.
Prepare Ice for Emergencies
Having extra ice can come in handy during a power outage. It can keep your food fresh for extra days. You can store the extra ice in your freezer to use them when your fridge is not running.
How To Make Ice?
You can make ice by filling bottles with water and placing them in your freezer. Another straightforward way is to make them using an ice tray. Using a clean ice tray, fill the tray just below the rim since water expands when it freezes.
Place the tray flat in your freezer to prevent pouring the water. If you have a small freezer, you can stack the trays on top of each other. Cubes should form within three to fours hours since you’ll be using large cube trays.
Once frozen, twist the tray to pop out the cubes. Sometimes it might be daunting to remove the cubes. This is where you can pour a bit of warm water on a cloth. Next, place the ice tray on the wet cloth for a few minutes. This should loosen the ice cubes without melting them. You can then store the ice cubes in a ziplock freezer bag and place them in your freezer.
Use Dry Ice
Another viable option is to use dry ice. It can keep your perishable fresh for up to three days. While an ideal alternative, it comes with its own downsides. For one, dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide (CO2). And when it melts, it can fill up small spaces such as air tight basements. This can be fatal since it can lead to suffocation or even death.
We recommend using dry ice in well-ventilated spaces. For example, rooms with large windows or wide doors. Keeping the windows and doors open can help reduce CO2 accumulation. Besides, dry ice is -78 degrees. Handling it without proper care can lead to severe frostbite.
How To Make Dry Ice?
Making dry ice is not complicated: All you need is a CO2 fire extinguisher and a fabric pillowcase. For improved safety, you should make your dry ice in an open area, far from kids, the elderly, and pets. Do not use an ordinary home fire extinguisher since it is made of potassium bicarbonate or sodium bicarbonate.
You can get a CO2 extinguisher from your local hardware store. You need protective gear to make the dry ice. For this, wear leather work gloves, heavy pants, and leather shoes. Don’t forget to wear lab goggles. A lab coat or a long-sleeved jacket is crucial to protect you from frostbite.
Now wrap the pillowcase around the extinguisher’s hose. Ensure the nozzle’s horn is inside the pillowcase. Use duct tape to make a tight seal since you don’t want any gas to escape. Hold the hose and the pillowcase tightly as you release the gas into the pillowcase.
Squeeze the extinguisher’s handle for 2 to 3 seconds to fill the pillowcase with enough CO2. Dry ice should start forming at the bottom. Release the handle after 3 seconds. CO2 vapor will escape from the pillowcase, which is normal and safe, as long as you are in an open space.
Once you take the extinguisher’s horn out of the pillowcase, you will find a pile of dry ice at the bottom.
Remove the dry ice cubes from the pillowcase and store them in a container such as a plastic bag or a bowl. Ensure to store it as a single pile, preferably in large chunks for it to last longer. Avoid sealing the container since the pressure of the CO2 will expand causing the container to explode. You can then store it in a freezer for later use.
Insulate the Exterior of Your Refrigerator
As you’d expect, insulation keeps the refrigerator cold for an extended period, keeping your perishable fresh.
You’ll need insulation material such as a heavy blanket, foam board insulation, or reflective foil insulation. You can also use towels or sleeping bags. Ensure the material used does not increase susceptibility to fire hazard.
If you’ll be using insulation material such as reflective foil, make sure to measure the dimensions of your fridge to determine the size and amount of material you’ll need.
Clean the exterior of the fridge to remove any debris or dust. This will help the insulation material adhere properly to the fridge’s body. Once clean and dry, cut the insulation material into sizes that can fit your fridge. Finally, attach the insulation material to the top and sides of the fridge while avoiding any ventilations.
Keep The Fridge Doors Closed
If you can’t insulate the exterior of the fridge, the easiest way to keep your fridge cold is to keep the doors closed. As you’d expect, opening the doors will let warm air in, which can increase the susceptibility of your food getting spoilt. To mitigate this, keep the doors closed and open them when necessary.
Use a Portable Power Station
The above methods can help keep your food fresh for a short period. But they are not viable if there’s a prolonged power outage. For this, you’ll need a reliable power source to keep your fridge running at least a few hours per day. This is where a portable power station comes into play. And not just any power station, but a high-capacity unit.
For example the BLUETTI AC200L Portable Power Station is an ideal fit. It comes with a 2048Wh capacity which can run your fridge for up to 30 hours or less if you connect other devices. The impressive 2400W running and 3600W starting wattage ensures the fridge will start and run seamlessly.
The best part is you can expand its capacity to 4092Wh or 8192Wh, keeping your food fresh for an extended period. Recharging it is extremely convenient since you can use solar, a generator, or a lead acid battery. Whether the power outage lasts weeks or months, with solar panels, the power station will stay charged.
Use a Portable Solar Generator
If you are looking for a more reliable and eco-friendly source of power to keep your fridge running during a power blackout, consider installing a solar generator, otherwise known as a battery backup. These devices have higher capacity than portable power stations, running appliances for days.
And they come bundled with solar panels. This means you get endless clean energy to power your fridge and your house a whole. There are many reputable solar generators on the market among them BLUETTI.
The BLUETTI AC300 + 2*B300 is an ideal solar generator to keep your fridge running during a power outage. The model has a 3000W running wattage and a 6000W surge wattage ideal for powering your fridge and other appliances simultaneously. It has an impressive capacity of 3072Wh, expandable to 12288Wh. This is enough to power your fridge for days.
And since it is equipped with a pure sine wave inverter, it cannot damage your fridge. You can charge it using solar thanks to the 2400W Max input port. It offers fast and stable charging allowing you to take advantage of short peak sun hours. But that’s not all, it has a 5400W Max port which allows you to connect solar and AC simultaneously.
Another portable solar generator you can use is the BLUETTI AC500 + B300/B300S. This model can run large fridges thanks to the 10,000W surge wattage. The 5,000W rated wattage powers your fridge seamlessly. The 3072Wh capacity will power your fridge for more than 20 hours. And once you expand it to 18432Wh, you can rest assured your food will stay fresh for more than three days or even a week on a single charge.
Like other BLUETTI solar generators, it supports solar, AC, lead acid, and other three charging methods. And for improved convenience, you can install an app on your phone for remote monitoring and control. With 16 outlets, you can connect other devices like laptops, smartphones, and TVs.
FAQs
How long can a fridge stay cold without power?
A fridge can stay cold for up to four hours while a fully-packed freezer can last up to 48 hours. This however depends on its insulation. The better the insulation, the longer it will last and vice versa.
Can food last for 24 hours in a fridge without power?
No, perishables can last for four hours in a fridge without power.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are several ways to keep your fridge running during a power outage. You can use dry ice, insulate the exterior of the fridge, or use a portable power station. If you want to keep your food cold for long, consider using a portable solar generator.
