Unplug Refrigerator?
Posted date : May 5, 2020.
As a snowbird in Arizona, I am getting conflicting information regarding whether or not to unplug my refrigerator when I return home. We keep our house at 90 degrees Fahrenheit while we are not there. Hoping maybe you can provide an answer. Thank you.
Janet Brunton
Edmonton, AB
Ed.: We have done both, and have never had an issue. If you do unplug your fridge, make sure that it is totally empty and leave the door open. You should put something between the door and the fridge to make sure that it does not close accidentally. If you leave your refrigerator on, which we often do, it will cost a little more in electricity. The issue here concerns an extended power outage, which could rot things left in the fridge. To know whether this has happened, put a bowl or glass of ice cubes in the freezer. If, when you return, the ice cubes are still there, the frozen food is fine. If the ice cubes have melted and there is now frozen water instead, I would throw out all of the food as it may be contaminated. We primarily leave drinks and non-perishables for the summer and it is sure nice to pull up to the door after our long journey south and crack a cold coke, or a beer or a glass of chilled white wine. We also leave an opened box of baking soda in our refrigerator at all times, to reduce any offensive smell which might linger.
