How to Keep Food Cold in a Broken Refrigerator

If your refrigerator is broken, you don't have much time before the food inside of it spoils. If you live in Long Island, you can call 24/7 Refrigerator Repair at (866) 782-9376 and get 1-hour emergency service to avoid this problem altogether. However, if your appliance repairman doesn't offer same-day service, you will need to find a way to keep your food fresh.

Alternative Food Storing Options

If your refrigerator is broken and you are waiting for service, the best bet to keep your food fresh is to store is somewhere else. Here are some alternative storage options:

• Spare refrigerator. The ideal solution in this situation is to have a spare refrigerator which is fully-functioning. If this is the case, remove all of the items (or as many as will fit) from your primary refrigerator and store them in the spare until it is fixed.
• Cooler. If you do not have a spare refrigerator, a cooler could be a viable option if you only need to wait a day or two. Pack all of the perishable food items that will fit into your cooler and fill it with a substantial amount of ice. Make sure to refill with fresh ice when it starts to melt.
• Outside. It is now December, so if you live in a cold climate you can store your food outside as a last resort. If you do not have a cooler, you can store items in a plastic bin or cardboard box in your garage or shed to avoid animals eating it. If you decide to use this method, use extreme caution because temperature fluctuations in the weather can thaw frozen foods or promote bacteria growth in meat and dairy.

Keep Your Refrigerator Cold

If you don't own a spare refrigerator or cooler and the temperature is too warm for outside storage, you will have to do everything you can to keep your refrigerator cold. The most effective ways to do this are:

• Open it sparingly. The less you open your refrigerator, the less cold air escapes from it. If your refrigerator is broken and you are waiting for a repair, help keep your food cold by minimizing the amount of times you open your refrigerator. If you have to open it, take out everything you will need in the next hour to prevent opening it again.
• Cover it in blankets. Wrapping your refrigerator in newspapers and blankets is a good way to insulate it and prevent it from losing cold air.
• Use dry ice. If your appliance repair company doesn't offer same day service and you have to wait two or more days to get your refrigerator fixed, consider using dry ice to keep your food cold. DryIceInfo.com recommends a ten pound slab of dry ice for every 12 hours that your refrigerator is without power – you can learn more by clicking here.

If you are looking for a refrigerator repair service in New York that offers 24/7 emergency appointments, call 24/7 Refrigerator Service at (866) 782-9376. We offer same-day repairs and our fully-stocked vans allow us to be at your door within an hour of your call. For more information, please call or visit our website.