Summertime brings vacations, outdoor activities, barbecues, and often blackouts. Fortunately, if there's a power outage and you just filled your refrigerator and freezer full of expensive steaks or premium veggie burgers, your homeowners insurance may be able to help. Many standard home insurance policies include at least some spoiled food coverage.
A local independent insurance agent can also help you find the right homeowners insurance food spoilage coverage. They'll make sure you get set up with all the protection you need against power outages, spoiled food, and much more. But first, here's a closer look at food spoilage insurance and what it covers.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Spoiled Food?
If you've ever experienced a power outage, you may have wondered, "Does my insurance cover spoiled food?" Luckily, homeowners insurance will cover food that spoils as a result of a power outage caused by a covered risk. If the power went out because a tree fell on your roof or because lightning struck your home, food spoilage would be covered as part of the claim.
Will Insurance Cover Spoiled Food Due to a Blackout?
There are certain instances in which your home insurance isn't likely to cover a spoiled food loss claim. For example, if the power went out in your home because of a do-it-yourself project gone wrong, or because of a widespread blackout, your homeowners insurance probably would not cover food spoilage. You can ask your independent insurance agent for assistance with how to claim a spoiled food loss.
How Much Will Homeowners Insurance Pay for Spoiled Food?
Now you may be wondering, "How much does food spoilage insurance cover?" Your home insurance usually comes with a food spoilage coverage limit of $500 for food that spoils as a result of a power outage. This limit comes standard with your policy, but you can also purchase additional coverage if you want.
Your independent insurance agent can help you add a food spoilage endorsement to your policy. For an additional premium, you may be able to get food spoilage coverage that has a separate deductible and covers spoilage losses for any reason.
Further, your homeowners insurance deductible will apply to food spoilage coverage. In many cases, it's also unlikely that filing a claim would even be worth it unless you had a large volume of food that spoiled. If you had a $500 deductible and $400 of food spoilage, your homeowners insurance would not pay anything.
Additional Coverage for Food Spoilage
You may want to find out if your utility company will reimburse you for your home insurance deductible, food spoilage, or other damage caused by a power outage. A home or appliance warranty may also provide food spoilage coverage.
Additionally, renters insurance food spoilage coverage is also typically included in standard policies. Business insurance policies often include coverage for spoiled food as well.
Do I Need Food Spoilage Coverage?
If you have a home or renters insurance policy, it likely comes with some protection against food spoilage. You're unlikely to need much additional coverage, if any, unless you operate a business like a restaurant or store that keeps a large amount of expensive food in stock. In such a case, you'll need to look for a business insurance policy that includes enough food spoilage coverage for your unique company's needs.
When You Should Discard Food After a Power Outage
Eating spoiled food can cause serious illness. Certain refrigerated foods should be thrown out if they have been exposed to temperatures greater than 40°F for more than two hours, while others can last up to four hours or more. Frozen foods may last for as long as 48 hours in an unopened freezer.
Food Safety During and After Blackouts
Follow these safety tips to keep yourself and your food safe during and after a power outage.
- To avoid illness, never taste food to determine its safety.
- Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature internally.
- If the refrigerator is unopened, it will keep food safely cold for about four hours. A full freezer will hold the temperature for about 48 hours (or 24 hours if it is half full and the door remains closed).
- Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40°F or below.
- If you know the power will be out for a prolonged period, get block ice or dry ice to keep your refrigerator and freezer as cold as possible. Fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic-foot full freezer for two days.
- If the power has been out for several days, check the temperature of the freezer with an appliance thermometer or food thermometer. If the food still contains ice crystals or is at 40°F or below, the food is safe.
- If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, check each package of food to determine its safety. If the food still contains ice crystals, the food is safe.
- Discard refrigerated perishable food, such as meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, leftovers, other dairy, and deli items after four hours without power.
- When in doubt, throw it out.
Saving food items isn't always possible. Risking your health isn't worth it in comparison to having to replace food that has spoiled.
Tips for Maintaining Your Refrigerator to Avoid Food Spoilage
There are also a few steps you can take to optimize your refrigerator usage and help prevent spoiled food. For example:
- Follow the manufacturer's guidelines for fridge temperature. Keeping the temperature too high or too low can spoil food.
- Clean the coils according to the manufacturer’s guide. The refrigerator will not run as efficiently with dusty coils.
- Check and clean the door seals regularly. Loose or dirty door seals can make your refrigerator work harder and not run as efficiently or effectively.
Caring for the appliances that store your food is a great proactive way to reduce your risk of food spoilage that's not caused by power outages and other disasters.
An Independent Insurance Agent Can Help You Find Food Spoilage Coverage
When it comes to protecting yourself against losses due to food spoilage, no one's better equipped to help than a local independent insurance agent. These agents have access to multiple insurance companies, so they're free to shop and compare many different quotes and policies for you.
They'll get you set up with the best food spoilage insurance at a great rate. And down the road, your agent can help you file claims and update your coverage as necessary.
