Hurricane Milton: How to prep your kitchen and food before power outages and storm surge

There are a few things I’m doing differently when prepping my kitchen for Hurricane Milton .

Following Hurricane Irma in 2017 that resulted in a power outage that lasted weeks on the Isles of Capri, and Hurricane Ian in 2022, whose storm surge decimated everything inside my home, I've learned.

For those without generators, and while there’s still power, here’s how I’m organizing right now.

Got a dishwasher?

Though it may seem wasteful of water if not full, run it so you have clean utensils, glassware and plates. After Irma, everything was caked on and stinky because my now-ex husband thought it was stupid to run the dishwasher before we evacuated.

What to eat now and what to save for later?

If you’ve ever gone grocery shopping only to discover when returning home that you already had the items you just bought, this tip is handy 365.

Dive into your fridge while you have power and check out expiration dates on packaged salads, soft and liquid dairy items and proteins. Move those items to the front and eat them first.

More: Milton live updates: Collier declares mandatory evacs in zones A, B effective 6 a.m. Tuesday

As for your freezer?

According to America’s Test Kitchen , which I watch religiously every Saturday, full freezers run more efficiently.

“The more cold food is in your freezer, the colder it will stay if the power goes out. If you don’t open the freezer door at all, a full freezer will maintain its temperature for up to 48 hours before it starts to warm up — a half-full freezer will only last half as long,” said writer Miye Bromberg.

Bromberg also noted not to block a freezer’s air vents.

If you’re like me and your freezer isn’t typically full, how to fill it now with what you’ve got on hand?

Water bottles, soups, liquor, cookies and bread, for starters. Fill your pet’s water dish and put it in a spill-proof spot. My Yeti cups too to keep my morning latte maximally chilled.

Did you know milk can go in the freezer? I did not, but a good friend who grew up with six siblings said her mom always kept extra gallons in the freezer.

Next, North Dakota State University ’s Agriculture School recommends “set the refrigerator and freezer’s temperature to the coldest setting to build up a reserve of cooling.”

Also key: Keep fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible now so the unit retains maximum cooling effects.

Before the storm, fill a small cup or bowl with tap water and let it freeze. When frozen, add a penny to the top.

When you absolutely must open your freezer after a power outage, take a look: If the penny sunk even just a bit, it indicates that your food started thawing.

What's my evacuation zone? Hurricane Milton may be headed for Collier County

Pantry items

After Hurricane Ian, all my lower cabinets dedicated to pots, pans, utensils, a spice rack, oils and serving platters were filled with water and covered with storm sludge despite the drawers being shut.

Tip: Move lower cabinet contents high and close to the wall as possible but within reach to avoid injury. Even just a splash of surge sludge can contaminate anything porous or previously unsealed.

Pet food

Remember Fluffy and Fido: Move pet food to a higher-level cabinet, especially if you use bagged kibble or seed, and pre-seal to protect it.

Using Fresh Pet? Pre-slice and individually wrap daily servings now, put them in the freezer and thaw while wrapped for an hour before serving, a lesson learned during Hurricane Helene while dog-sitting for a friend.

This story was updated to add a video.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Hurricane Milton: How to prep your kitchen and food before power outages and storm surge