Having your freezer breaking down can be a genuine nightmare. It can also force you to throw away food. On the other hand, if you know what to do by the time you get a freezer repair specialist to fix your problem, you may be able to salvage a few things.
1. Do Not Open The Freezer
The freezer should be able to maintain a low temperature for at least 4 to 5 hours if you do not open it. Certainly, you can check the state of the freezer every hour or so. If the food is still chilled inside, leave it there and wait for the technician to come and look at the freezer.
2. Transfer Food
If you have a refrigerator that is still working, you will need to transfer the food from the freezer to the refrigerator. Even if the food requires to be frozen, it is still better preserved in the refrigerator.
3. Avoid Cross-Contamination
It may take some time before you grab hold of a freezer repair technician. If your food starts to defrost, you need to pay special attention to the meat. As it defrosts, juices from the meat can contaminate other foods in the freezer such as vegetables. If possible, use sealable bags to protect the food from contaminations.
4. Throw Away Compromised Food
If the food in your freezer completely defrosts, you should throw it away if it stayed at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Vegetables can go beyond the 2-hour mark but meat can be dangerous if it stays at room temperatures.
5. Salvage Some Food By Cooking It
You may find yourself in a situation in which repairing the freezer will take too long. While you wait for freezer repair, you can save some food by cooking it. Leave it in the freezer until it reaches room temperature and then cook some of that food in order to salvage some of it.