How to Rescue Food if your Freezer Stops Working

In the event that you discover your freezer is not working, it's crucial to keep the freezer door closed for as long as possible. Due to the insulation of freezers, they may still be able to maintain frozen temperatures for up to 48 hours, depending on how full they are. The more items that are stored in the freezer, the longer it will be able to maintain its temperature.
However, if you are uncertain how long the freezer has been off, it's important to promptly evaluate the food to determine if it has partially or fully thawed out.
If the freezer has no power, such as no lights or sounds, there are some basic checks that can be done to try to restore power and get the freezer running again. Firstly, check if other appliances in the same room have also lost power. If they have, examine the fuse board. Test the socket with a lamp to ensure it is functioning properly. If the socket is working fine, check if the fuse inside the plug has blown. Attempt plugging the freezer into another socket, even if it means using a temporary extension lead.
Once the freezer is back in operation, open it up and carefully inspect the food. If the food has not thawed and appears to be safe, it should be okay to consume.
If the freezer still has power but is not working correctly, it may be out of commission for several days or longer. In this case, it's essential to handle the food inside the freezer as soon as possible.
In the event that food in the freezer has partially thawed but is still relatively frozen, it's advisable to try transferring it to another freezer, if possible. You may be able to rescue the most expensive food by asking a friendly neighbor or relative nearby if they would allow you to use their freezer.
If some food has fully defrosted but is still relatively cold and safe to consume, transfer it to the fridge and use it as soon as possible. If you don't have enough space in the fridge, consider using an insulated cooler bag and borrow ice or ice blocks to keep the food cold. However, it's crucial not to risk food poisoning.
If your freezer is still under warranty or is relatively new, you may be entitled to claim compensation for any lost or wasted food. However, claiming for lost or wasted food can be challenging, so it's important to save as much food as possible before making a claim. Once you have done everything possible to save the food, you should read up on the subject of claiming compensation and gather evidence to support your claim.
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