WSU Extension Q&A: How long is food safe in freezer if power goes out?

Q. If we had a long power outage, how long does the food in our freezer remain safe?

A. A fully loaded freezer can maintain its cold temperature for up to two days. If it’s half full, you have 24 hours. Keep the freezer door shut to help maintain the cold temperature.

Once the power is restored, check the freezer temperature. Potentially hazardous foods that are 40 degrees or colder are safe to use or refreeze. Potentially hazardous foods that have been above 40 degrees for two hours or more need to be discarded.

Q. We are thinking of using some locally available canola meal for our young growing calves. Will they gain weight well on canola meal?

A. Canola meal is a good feed. Since canola meal is the by-product left over after the oil is extracted, it is a concentrated protein feed with some residual oil. Canola meal is a great protein supplement and also provides cattle additional energy from the residual oil.

However, for a balanced diet, other feeds such as grains may need to be included in order to deliver adequate energy to achieve a desired level of weight gain. It is also imperative that adequate roughage is included in the diet to keep the digestive tract healthy. The most important thing to remember when selecting feeds is to consider each feeds attributes and include them to achieve a balanced diet. A variety of feeds may be required to get a diet that will allow your cattle to grow well.

Q. Last year, my grape leaves had curled brown spots on the top of the leaf and bumps on the bottom of the leaf. What was wrong?

A. It is always best to see the leaves, but it sounds like grape blister mite. These are common in home gardens where few pesticides are used. The best control is to remove infected leaves and throw them away, not on the ground. They generally will not damage the fruit.

Q. I am a 4-H leader. My entire 4-H Club wants to do something together. What would you suggest?

A. Your club could take on a community service project. In community service projects, 4-H’ers do things to improve their neighborhood. 4-H Clubs often choose community projects in conservation, beatification, safety, or health.

This story was originally published January 24, 2016 at 11:59 AM with the headline "WSU Extension Q&A: How long is food safe in freezer if power goes out?."