Australians have been warned blackouts could threaten Christmas lunch as temperatures are set to soar. Temperatures are set to reach nearly 40C on Christmas Day, with Adelaide tipped to be the hottest city across the country with a high of 37C. As Aussie’s whip up a storm in the kitchen for the special day, PSS Distributors general manager Terrence Daniel has warned the festive period is “vulnerable” to power outages.

“The days over Christmas, with homes full of friends and family, fridges stocked to the brim and air conditioners running at full blast, is one of the most vulnerable times for power outages — so it pays to be ready,” Mr Daniel said. Milk, yoghurt and soft cheeses, raw, cooked or thawed meat and seafood, and cooked meals and cut fruit and vegetables aren’t safe to eat after being left out for more than four hours. However sauces and condiments like tomato sauce, as well as whole fruits and vegetables, are typically safe for longer.

In addition, a freezer can keep food frozen for up to two days — or 24 hours if the freezer is only half full — so long as the door is kept closed. If food has been kept above 5C for more than four hours it’s a good idea to throw it out. To avoid the scramble of attempting to preserve food during a blackout, PSS Distributors general manager Terrence Daniel suggested a battery-backup system.

In the instance of a power outage, Mr Daniel urged Aussies to “resist the urge to check (the) fridge constantly” and keep .