You know the sound your freezer makes—the subtle hum that says everything inside is safe, cold, and probably covered in a little ice. So when it suddenly goes silent or starts making noises that sound less like humming and more like coughing, panic can set in fast.
No one wants to toss an entire freezer’s worth of food, especially after that last big grocery haul. Here’s what to do (and what not to do) if your freezer quits on you.
Don’t Open the Door (Seriously, Resist!)
Your first instinct might be to poke around, but the best thing you can do is keep the freezer door shut. Every peek lets out cold air and speeds up thawing. A full, unopened freezer will hold its temperature for about 48 hours, while a half-full freezer buys you about 24 hours, according to USDA Food Safety.
Get Creative with Cold
If it’s clear your freezer’s going to be out of commission for a while, hunt down some ice, gel packs, or even bags of frozen veggies to tuck around your most valuable items—think meats, seafood, or pricey specialty foods. Transferring food to a cooler can buy you even more time, especially if your power is going to be out for hours.
If you have friends or neighbors nearby with freezer space, don’t be shy about asking for help. Even a couple shelves at someone else’s house can make a huge difference and save more of your food than you’d ever fit in a cooler. The American Red Cross recommends moving food as soon as you know your freezer (or fridge) is in trouble.
Check What’s Still Safe
Once power is restored or you’ve managed to get freezer repair help, it’s time to check what’s salvageable. Good news: if food still has ice crystals or is at 40°F or lower, it’s generally safe to refreeze or cook, says FoodSafety.gov. That goes for meats, poultry, seafood, and most prepared foods. If something has thawed completely and has been above 40°F for two hours or more, play it safe and toss it—no meal is worth a midnight trip to urgent care.
Give everything a look and a sniff. If anything smells off, has weird textures, or leaks oddly colored liquid, don’t gamble. Trust your instincts. Saving a little money isn’t worth getting sick.
Future-Proof Your Freezer Drama
If this is the latest freezer meltdown in a string of disasters, it might be time to have a professional look things over. Calling in freezer repair services can prevent more emergencies down the line and give you peace of mind the next time a storm hits or the lights flicker.
For bonus points, label and organize your frozen food in bins or bags. That way, if this happens again, you know exactly what to save first and where it all is—no wild digging required, and a way less stressful rescue mission.
When your freezer fails, it’s easy to panic. Take a breath, follow these steps, and you’ll save most (if not all) of your favorite foods—plus, you’ll know you handled it like a pro.