From More In My Basket

During hurricane season, power outages and flooding can threaten your food supply—but good storage practices can help protect it. Whether your food is fresh, frozen, or shelf-stable, where and how you store it makes a big difference during an emergency. This guide walks you through simple ways to keep your food safer, longer.

Before the storm: prepare all food storage areas

1. Clean and organize all spaces
   Whether it’s the fridge, freezer, or pantry, now is the time to clean house. Get rid of expired, spoiled, or nearly empty items. Clearing space helps cold air circulate better in your fridge/freezer – and helps you spot what foods need better storage in your cabinets.
2. Elevate and protect shelf-stable foods
   Move canned goods, grains, and other pantry staples off the floor and onto higher, stable shelves – especially if you’re in a flood-prone area. Water damage or pests can make food unsafe even if it’s never opened.
3. Use clear containers and labels
   Store dry goods like pasta, rice, flour, or cereal in airtight containers. Label everything with best-by dates. This helps prevent spoilage, keeps pests out, and makes it easier to take inventory quickly before and after a storm.
4. Choose cool, dry, and dark spaces
   Pantries and cabinets should be cool (ideally below 75°F), dry, and out of direct sunlight. Avoid storing food near stoves, dishwashers, or other heat-producing appliances. Even shelf-stable food can degrade in high humidity or heat.
5. Prep with the frozen penny test
   This is a simple way to tell if your freezer stayed cold, but it takes a little bit of preparation beforehand:
   • Freeze a small cup of water, then place a penny on top of the ice. 
   • If the penny is still on top when you return to your freezer, your food likely stayed frozen and safe through any power outages.
   • If the penny sank to the bottom, the freezer warmed enough to melt the ice – meaning your food likely thawed and refroze, and should be discarded. 

Why it works: Melting ice lets the penny drop. If the water refreezes around it, the penny’s new position tells the story. (Source: University of California)

Fridge and freezer: maximize cold where it counts 

1. Freeze smart
   A full freezer holds cold longer than a half-full one. Group frozen items close together so they insulate each other. Freeze bottles of water or gel packs to help keep things cold longer during an outage.
2. Know where its coldest
   In your fridge, the coldest spot is usually the back of the bottom shelf. Store dairy, eggs, and leftovers there so they stay cold longer if the power goes out. If your fridge/freezer doesn’t have a built-in one, consider placing an inexpensive appliance thermometer inside.
3. Keep doors closed
   Avoid opening the fridge or freezer during an outage. Cold air escapes fast. A full, unopened freezer can stay cold up to 48 hours; a fridge stays safe for about 4 hours if left shut.
4. Shift to a cooler if needed
   If outages last more than a few hours, move your most perishable items to a cooler with ice or frozen water bottles. Store raw meats in leak-proof containers and keep them separate from ready-to-eat foods to prevent cross-contamination.

After the storm: know what to keep

1. Check temps first
   When the power comes back, check appliance thermometers. If temperatures went above 40°F for more than four hours, it’s safest to discard perishable foods. If you prepped the frozen penny test, check the results.
2. Inspect pantry items
   If floodwater or moisture got into your pantry or cabinets, throw out anything in cardboard, paper, or non-sealed packaging – even if it looks dry. Cans that are dented, rusted, or swollen should also be discarded.
3. Clean storage areas
   Wipe down the inside of your fridge, freezer, and pantry with a mild bleach solution if you suspect flooding or spoilage. Let everything dry completely before restocking.

Protecting your food resources: smart use of SNAP benefits

If you’re one of the over 1.4 million North Carolinians who use SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), good food storage isn’t just a safety issue—it’s a financial one. Losing food to spoilage means losing part of your monthly grocery budget.

A few smart storage habits can help you protect both your food and your benefits:

• Use airtight containers and store dry goods off the floor to prevent pests or moisture damage.
• Keep shelf-stable foods in a cool, dry, dark location year-round.
• Use your freezer to preserve leftovers and extend the life of items bought with SNAP.
• Keep a cooler on hand in case you need to move refrigerated food quickly during an outage.

Simple steps like storing food off the floor, using airtight containers, and protecting your fridge during an outage help make the most of your benefits and reduce waste if the power goes out. And if you’re not currently receiving SNAP but think you might qualify, the More In My Basket team is here to help. They offer free, confidential SNAP application assistance to North Carolina residents—and they do it over the phone, in English (1-855-240-1451), Spanish (1-888-382-7105), and Portuguese (1-855-240-1451).

Final tip: when in doubt, throw it out

If you’re unsure whether food has stayed safe—especially meat, dairy, or prepared foods—it’s best to discard it. No meal is worth the risk of foodborne illness. By preparing your storage spaces ahead of time and knowing how to respond during and after a storm, you’ll be protecting both your health and your household’s food security.

Orange County residents are also encouraged to reach out to Family & Consumer Sciences Extension Agent Ivelisse Colón at ivelisse_colon@ncsu.edu or 919-245-2055 for research-based information to help them make food safety decisions before and after a storm.

Sources:

• Food Safety at Home: Tips for Keeping Your Family Healthy (Clemson Cooperative Extension)
• What to do if the Freezer Stops (UGA: National Center for Home Food Preservation)
• The Frozen Penny Test: A Simple Trick to Check Your Freezer’s Status After a Power Outage (University of California)
• Keep Food Safe After a Disaster or Emergency (CDC)
• Food and Water Safety During Power Outages and Floods (USDA)
• Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency (FSIS)