Food poisoning is a serious concern, especially when the summer temperatures start to rise. Even if you will have the refrigerator running in your trailer while you are on the road, you still need to take precautions to avoid having food go bad. Here are some tips to help you protect your family from the dangers of spoiled food.
Turn it on Early
It can take hours for a camper freezer to reach the right temperature. Wait until it’s turned on and cooled down completely before putting any food inside it. If you are heading to your seasonal site and the refrigerator has been off, then you should make sure that your food is stored in an ice chest with more than enough ice to maintain temperature. Spend a few dollars on a refrigerator thermometer so you know when it has reached the right temperature.
A Quarter in the Cup
Put a small cup of water in the freezer before you head out and let it freeze. Place a quarter on top of the ice. When you arrive at your destination, make sure the quarter on top is still in place. If it has sunk, then you know the refrigerator has lost power at some point during the trip and can take appropriate measures. This tip is especially valuable if you have a seasonal campsite and like to leave your frozen goods in the camper during the week.
Pick up an Ice Chest
Do your kids like to open the refrigerator for a cold drink? Are you constantly checking it to make sure it’s still latched shut and working properly? Save space in the unit and ensure that your food stays cold by taking along an ice chest for drinks. Leave the water, sodas and other drinks in the chest with ice, and that will minimize how much your refrigerator doors are opened.
Check the Propane
If you are going to run your refrigerator on the road, then you will need to make sure you have enough propane ahead of time. Check the tanks and have them filled before you start the trip. This will prevent you from losing all of your food because the gas ran out before you arrived at the campground.
The refrigerators in motorhomes are incredibly convenient. They make it easy to take all of your favorite foods out on the road with you. However, you need to take some steps to ensure that you keep the food at the proper temperatures to avoid food poisoning.
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