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Which foods to save and which to ditch when your cottage fridge conks out

There’s nothing worse than the cottage fridge conking out on the first day that you arrive. Oh, wait, yes there is: getting food poisoning because you ate bad deli meat from your broken-down fridge. If you lose refrigeration—because of a malfunctioning propane fridge, say, or a power outage—your food heads for the dreaded Danger Zone (above 4°C), where bacteria can rapidly multiply. Some items, you can salvage. Others? Better ditch.

Note: When you lose power, the fridge should still keep your food safe for at least four hours; the freezer, for at least 24 hours. Keep the door closed as much as possible.

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