1) Keep that freezer door shut! Don’t open it unless you absolutely have to. According to the FDA, a full freezer will hold its temperature for up to 48 hours if the door remains closed (up to 24 hours if it’s half full). Best practice is always to keep your milk in the back of the freezer where it is the coldest. This will help it stay maximally cold in general, and frozen longer in an outage. If your freezer isn’t full, you can always fill it with ice packs, containers of water, or in a pinch…even snow!

2) Ask for help. if it’s safe, you can ask a friend, family member, neighbor for help. Even the neighborhood corner store may be able to keep your milk frozen until your power is restored.

3) Use a generator. If possible, purchase a generator to buy you some time in the event of an outage. A portable generator can be used to run large appliances temporarily. Most homeowners will use a generator somewhere between 3000 and 6500 watt capacity. A large refrigerator/freezer uses about 780 watts, so if you aren’t planning to run anything else off of it, you can get by with a smaller generator and lessen the expense. If you live in an area prone to outages, or if you regularly experience prolonged outages, you may consider investing in a whole-house generator instead. Contact a local electrician to discuss your options!

4) Use a cooler. If you have a cooler, pack it as full as possible, insulating any air space with ice packs or crumpled paper, or snow if you have it. The less open space, the colder it will stay. Wrap the cooler in blankets for added insulation.

5) Bury it in the snow! This should be an absolute last resort, but if your temperatures are consistently below freezing, you can bury your milk under the snow. The key here is to keep it covered, completely out of the sun (even if temps are low, direct sun can thaw it), and sealed tightly (double ziploc freezer bags at least) to prevent leakage and keep animals from finding it. **This practice is NOT recommended by the FDA, due to variables like inconsistent temperatures, sanitation, and animal concerns. It should only be used if all other methods fail or are unavailable.**