Food refrigeration question

[pinkoos]

Hi,

So we have a 25 year old SubZero for which the previous owners of our house had replaced either one or both compressors some time in the last 5 years or so.

Turns out that the compressor for the freezer is on it's way out. It hasn't died completely, but it's only getting the freezer down to about 20 degrees F (instead of 0).

When I first noticed that the freezer wasn't "freezing," I moved all the dairy products out (mainly ice cream) into our other refrigerator in the garage. We're vegetarians, so we don't have any meat. So, the only thing that was left in the SubZero freezer is stuff like frozen veggies, frozen french fries, frozen bread and stuff like that. Again, no dairy and no meat.

Now, while our home warranty company is in the process of ordering a new compressor, I'm wondering if the stuff that's left in the freezer is safe at about 20 degrees F or will I have to toss all of it? There's no more room left in the garage freezer, so that's the dilemma I'm facing.

The stuff in the SubZero is still technically "frozen" since it's at 20 degrees F, but it's not at the ideal 0 degrees F.

Thanks.

[mikebw]

Sounds like the food left in the 20º F freezer should be fine. Might want to use it up sooner than later if you can just in case.

[vicrock]

It is fine - but see if you can claim it on the home warranty.

[OWC Jamie]

Probably all quite safe.
You may notice that some things start losing flavors / textures sooner than they otherwise may have.

You might want to try to use things that you may otherwise have kept and used for 6 months - sooner.

[davester]

There's no "dilemma". The food is safe. It's just that it will spoil more quickly at higher temperatures. "They" say that for each 5 degrees above zero the storage time before your food spoils is cut in half*. Also, it loses more nutrients and has lousier texture than cold food because it freezes more slowly thus forming bigger ice crystals which damage the cellular structure.

Start eating.

*for Paul F the spoilage time would be approximately 5 times as long.

[Paul F.]

From the wilds of North Yorkshire, England, I hear the Paul F. Signal.... On duty even on vacation..


It'll be fine... Just use the stuff that's sat at 20 deg up first...
Documenting the cost of the food isn't a bad idea, but I suspect the warranty won't cover it. Never hurts to ask though.

[davester]

Hey Paul, have you wandered the moors yet?...been to York and seen the railway museum and/or the shambles and/or Jorvik?

[Paul F.]

Wandered, not really... ( hiked 4+ miles of Hadrians Wall though..)
York, check... Jorvik, check. York Minster, check ( Wow, btw), shambles, check, and the York Wall.. Some of it, check.

Long trip report brewing... Probably write much of it on the flight from Heathrow to SFO in a couple days.

[davester]

More importantly, how much real ale* have you consumed?




*and please don't return if you have yet to discover what the term "real ale" means.

[Paul F.]

Bah... Still tastes like something run through a horses urinary tract to me..
Some through an over watered horse, some through an active dehydrated one.. Makes little difference to me.
Just don't think i'm ever going to develop a taste for anything in the broad "beer" family.

Now, ask me about the difference between US an UK lamb... :-)


We seem to have hijacked pinkoos thread.. Sorry pinkoos!