‘Vulnerable’: Tips on how to keep Christmas food safe to eat amid power outages

Australians have been warned the festive period is “vulnerable” to power outages.

Australians have been warned blackouts could threaten Christmas lunch as temperatures are set to soar.

Temperatures are set to reach nearly 40C on Christmas Day, with Adelaide tipped to be the hottest city across the country with a high of 37C.

As Aussie’s whip up a storm in the kitchen for the special day, PSS Distributors general manager Terrence Daniel has warned the festive period is “vulnerable” to power outages.

“The days over Christmas, with homes full of friends and family, fridges stocked to the brim and air conditioners running at full blast, is one of the most vulnerable times for power outages — so it pays to be ready,” Mr Daniel said.

Australian fridges are set to be full ahead of Christmas Day. Picture: NewsWire/ David Crosling

However potential power outages could threaten food. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Milk, yoghurt and soft cheeses, raw, cooked or thawed meat and seafood, and cooked meals and cut fruit and vegetables aren’t safe to eat after being left out for more than four hours.

However sauces and condiments like tomato sauce, as well as whole fruits and vegetables, are typically safe for longer.

In addition, a freezer can keep food frozen for up to two days — or 24 hours if the freezer is only half full — so long as the door is kept closed.

If food has been kept above 5C for more than four hours it’s a good idea to throw it out.

To avoid the scramble of attempting to preserve food during a blackout, PSS Distributors general manager Terrence Daniel suggested a battery-backup system.

In the instance of a power outage, Mr Daniel urged Aussies to “resist the urge to check (the) fridge constantly” and keep fridge and freezer doors shut if a blackout does occur.

“Every time you open the door, you let cold air out,” Mr Daniel said.

“Keep the doors closed and you buy yourself more time to save your food.”

If food has been kept above 5C for more than four hours it’s a good idea to throw it out. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Moving food to an esky could be a good way to try and save food, however Mr Daniel warned if the food’s temperature has risen to 5C for more than two hours then “the safety of your food may be compromised”.

“If you move food to an esky with ice packs, monitor the temperature periodically,” he said.

If the worst does happen, Mr Daniel also suggested sharing the Christmas cheer with neighbours or shelters.

“If the power is out too long, consider donating usable food to neighbours or shelters before it spoils,” he said.

Finally, he urged Aussies to check whether their insurance policy covered the cost of spoiled food during unplanned outages.

Adelaide is tipped to hit a top of 37C on Christmas, while Melbourne and Brisbane are both expected to hit 30C.

Sydney is expected to reach a high of 26C, with Perth to hit 24C, Hobart 23C, Canberra 32C, and Darwin 34C with a chance of thunderstorms.

Originally published as ‘Vulnerable’: Tips on how to keep Christmas food safe to eat amid power outages