Updated December 12, 2022
You probably have a lot of questions about refrigerators if you’re a new RV owner or new to the lifestyle. Many typical issues with RV refrigerators exist, including alarms, food freezing, and difficulty cooling on propane. But another frequently asked concern about the refrigerator in your camper is how long it will stay chilly without being powered. The answer to this question will vary greatly depending on the type of refrigerator you have, but generally speaking, the items in your fridge should remain chilled for roughly 10 hours. Remember that you must refrain from opening the refrigerator door or allowing any of the chilly air to escape in order for this to work.
Some RV owners decide not to use their propane while operating the vehicle, which leaves the fridge without power while moving. Some people find that using propane while traveling can be risky, in which case they will switch it off. Although it’s not always true, some people simply don’t want to take the chance. In this situation, you might be concerned about how long food can be stored in the refrigerator before it all goes bad. As was previously indicated, if you are careful not to open the refrigerator door, it should remain chilly for up to 10 hours.
By placing ice packs or bags between food products and within bins, you can extend this duration by a few hours. Everything should stay cool for a long time as a result. Turning down the refrigerator’s thermostat as far as it will go, as well as putting some already-chilled beverages or bottles of cold water inside, may prove to be beneficial. You may lengthen your time by a few hours and buy yourself some time by following these easy steps. Avoid packing as much food as you can, and instead buy your perishable items when you get to your destination.
Although 10 hours is a fair benchmark to use, you may need to experiment on your own to arrive at a more precise estimate. Additionally, the amount of time that perishables can be stored without refrigeration varies depending on the item. For example, meat can be left out of the refrigerator for 10 to 12 hours. Milk and other dairy products degrade quickly, although butter and eggs can last for several days without refrigeration. Most frozen foods can be stored for 6 to 10 hours before thawing, though they might not be entirely uneatable even then.
You might be able to test how long food will last by putting a cup of milk (or any other food that spoils rapidly) inside your fridge when the propane power is off, however this may not always be the best option. After that, you can keep a record and determine when it will spoil. This would serve as a reliable guide as to how much time you would have in this situation. Based on employing additional cooling techniques, you might decide to take many tests (such as bags of ice).
Water or any other non-perishable liquid should always be kept in the refrigerator (or freezer) to assist regulate temperature. Using a thermometer and a water bottle together might be very helpful if you have previously struggled to control the temperature of your refrigerator. You would know your compartment is too cold, for example, if the water bottle started to freeze. If you are checking for spoiling, however, using milk or similar perishable liquid would be excellent.
Running the refrigerator and letting it cool for a few days before your trip is another method that can assist keep your fridge chilled for a few extra hours while you’re traveling. You should do this, especially if it has been some time since you last used your propane. It may take a few days for refrigerators to cool down enough for you to put food inside of them. Therefore, having enough cooling for a few days prior to your travel can be helpful once you turn off the fridge’s power supply.
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Can You Drive With RV Fridge On?
This is a contentious issue, and depending on whom you ask, you’ll get a different response. Many individuals believe that using propane while driving is risky and inefficient. Others, however, consider it to be completely safe. If your RV is not adequately ventilated so that propane fumes cannot enter, propane can be extremely deadly. It is therefore safe to travel in your RV while the refrigerator and other appliances fueled by propane are on. Others might decide it’s safer to drive without their propane because they have too many safety concerns. Remember that by doing this, perishables may potentially spoil in transit.
Whatever you use propane power for, it is crucial that everything is ventilated to prevent any dangerous mishaps. Due to its great flammability, propane has the potential to catch fire if moved or shook. Propane needs to be stored in a secure location where it can’t roll around or be moved by strong forces. Unfortunately, propane has been known to explode or burn while being transported. Nevertheless, if you take the necessary precautions, this shouldn’t be a problem.