What Is the Ideal Temperature for a Freezer?

If the freezer power goes off, foods can stay frozen between one to four days. To hold in the cold, keep the freezer closed, fully stocked and covered in insulating blankets. Fluctuating temperatures let food spoil and increase the risk of illness.

The modern freezer replaced the icebox, which featured a cabinet made from insulating materials, a drawer for a large chunk of ice and a compartment for groceries. Iceboxes fell out of style during the 1930s.