When a big storm hits, you will probably see posts all around social media telling you to put a sponge in your fridge before a storm. When the power goes off and your fridge stops cooling, it causes condensation to form inside the fridge, creating a lot of moisture on your shelves and on the containers of food inside. And we all know that when there is a lot of moisture around, odors are more likely to form and stay around longer.
A sponge works by absorbing the extra moisture in the air and on the surfaces in your fridge. That’s it. It does nothing else, it doesn’t cool anything. It doesn’t magically preserve food and It simply sucks up water. So the idea of using a sponge to absorb some of the moisture inside your fridge is not entirely made up. It is just usually misinterpreted.
What a Sponge Will (and Won’t) Do During a Power Outage
Okay, let me be clear about this because it is the part of this that seems to get most confused.
A sponge can soak up some of the extra moisture in your fridge. That may make the smells from spoiled food a bit milder. Additionally, it may make cleaning up the mess that develops when water puddles on shelves and in drawers a bit easier.
However, it cannot:
- Lower the temperature inside your fridge during a power outage
- Slow the rate at which bacteria grow
- Extend the length of time you can safely store perishable foods in your fridge
I’ve seen many people ask, “Will a sponge keep my food from spoiling?” My answer is no. Keeping perishable food from spoiling in a power outage situation is all about controlling the temperature, not controlling humidity levels.
A sponge is a smell control device. That is it.
What Really Matters When it Comes to Food Safety During a Power Outage
As soon as I started researching food safety recommendations related to power outages, I realized the sponge was basically irrelevant to food preservation.
This is what is important.
Perishable foods stored in a sealed refrigerator are generally safe for consumption for about four hours without electricity. After that point, the internal temperature of the refrigerator may rise above 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius). At that point, the risk of bacterial growth is very high.
Freezers work differently. A fully stocked freezer can hold food safe for about two days without power. A partially stocked freezer will keep food safe for roughly one day.
Take note of what is NOT listed in either of these sets of rules. Sponges are not included.
Food safety during power outage conditions is primarily concerned with maintaining low temperatures and limiting the number of times you open the refrigerator door.
My personal experience has shown that the biggest mistake most people make is checking on their food too frequently. Each time you check, warm air enters the refrigerator and the cold air escapes. Don’t do it.
Also, when in doubt, throw it away. While this may seem like a loss when you are throwing away your groceries, it is far safer than risking a foodborne illness.
Do You Need to Try It?
Now, you’re probably wondering if you need to put a sponge in the refrigerator before a storm. I’ll say, sure, try it. It is not hurting you. It may slightly mitigate the odor of spoiled food and it may make cleanup a bit easier. However, it will not save your groceries. It will not keep milk safe after the four-hour mark. It will not magically preserve your leftover food.
Based on my own testing during a short outage last year, I did notice that there was less water pooling in the drawers. However, I still had to discard food that had been at unsafe temperatures for too long. The sponge did not make any difference in that regard.
You can definitely use a sponge. Just don’t rely on it as a food safety method.
Better Methods to Keep Your Fridge Fresh During Storm Season
If your goal is to determine how to keep your refrigerator fresh during storm season, and protect your food, there are much better methods available.
One way is to ensure that your refrigerator and freezer are full. Because the contents of the refrigerator and freezer help maintain the temperature, a full appliance is typically able to remain colder longer. If you don’t have enough food to fill the space, consider freezing bottles of water ahead of time. These bottles of frozen water function as ice blocks and retain heat within them.
Another method is to include appliance thermometers inside both the refrigerator and freezer. By doing so, you will be able to see the actual temperature rather than guess.
Finally, be prepared with coolers and ice packs. If an outage exceeds the four-hour mark, placing perishable foods in an ice-filled cooler will give you additional time.
Again, minimize opening the doors of the refrigerator unless absolutely necessary. Based on my own experiences, this is the one habit that will make the largest difference in the protection of your food.
While the concept of putting a sponge in the refrigerator before a storm is not a complete waste of time, it is exaggerated. A sponge can help manage the moisture inside your refrigerator and possibly reduce odors once the power is restored. It cannot preserve food or stop food from spoiling.
True protection lies in maintaining a temperature below 40 degrees, minimizing the number of times you open the refrigerator door, and understanding the safe time limits for storing perishable foods.
I may still stick a sponge in my refrigerator before the next big storm. It is easy to do, and it will not harm you. However, I am not counting on it to save my groceries, because when it comes to food safety, temperature is what really matters.
