Topics:

• Should a Sub-Zero be turned off during a power outage?
• How long does food last during a power outage?
• What to do with food in a brownout or blackout
• Food safety guidelines without cooling during a power outage
• How to prepare for a power interruption
• Safe food storage temperatures
• Can dry ice be used in a refrigerator?

Answer:

The amount of time that food will last in a Sub-Zero during a power outage depends on different factors, such as amount of food in the refrigerator, outside temperature, and type of food being stored.

• In an empty Sub-Zero refrigerator, it typically takes 3 hours before air temperatures rise above 45°F (7°C) in a refrigerator section and 20°F (-6°C) in a freezer.
• If the Sub-Zero refrigerator contains food, it will take longer for the temperature to rise depending on the type and amount of food stored.

• If a product warms to 42°F (5°C) in the refrigerator section, do not keep it.
• If food in the freezer rises above 20°F (-6°C), do not refreeze it.
• Refer to Food and Water Safety during Power Outages and Floods for additional food safety information from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

• Keep the door to any refrigerator or freezer closed as much as possible when power is lost or a drop in voltage to power supply system (brownout) occurs.
• Add dry ice or bags of ice to prolong the life of the food. Dry ice should be placed in the unit in a separate container.
• Cool hot food safely first before storing. If a large amount of very hot food is placed in a refrigerator, it can raise the temperature of other foods significantly (ex. large pot of hot soup).
• If a planned power outage is scheduled, the unit can be turned off ahead of time to prevent any power fluctuations that could cause damage.

• Sub-Zero Generator Considerations
• Sub-Zero Does Not Turn On
• Sub-Zero Shuts Off by Itself