Food-safety tips

If you've lost power for a prolonged period, follow these tips regarding food safety from the Baltimore City Health Department:

•Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature.

•The refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours if it is unopened.

•A full freezer will keep the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed.

•Buy dry or block ice to keep the refrigerator as cold as possible. Fifty pounds of dry ice should keep 18-cubic-foot fully stocked freezer cold for two days.

•If you plan to eat refrigerated or frozen meat, poultry, fish or eggs while it is still at safe temperatures, it's important that each item is thoroughly cooked to the proper temperature to assure that any food-borne bacteria that may be present is destroyed.