Winter storms have a way of turning everyday routines upside down. When power goes out, even simple meals can become a challenge, and grocery runs may not be an option for days. Having a plan for emergency food in advance can make a stressful situation more manageable.

A top tip is to freeze water bottles and pre-chill coolers to extend the life of foods, preventing them from quickly spoiling. Essentially, the frozen bottles will act like ice packs, and as they thaw will also provide you with drinking water. This also applies to styrofoam cooler types.

Is your food still safe to eat? If your power was out for more than 4 hours, your fridge might be a hazard.

Most people do tend to run straight towards the bread, milk and eggs, known as the ‘panic-buying trinity,’” said Quad Whitson, extension culinary nutrition and food safety program associate for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Power outages could become widespread after an ice storm. Here's how long food will last in your fridge or freezer without power.

The time to prep for a power outage is before the storm hits. It gets cold and dark when the power goes out. It’s a great idea to keep a few LED flashlights or battery-powered lanterns in easy-to-find spots around your home. Lots of people will light candles during a blackout, but those are serious fire hazards.

By Robert McCool University of Kentucky Power outages can happen at any time. Damage to power lines due to severe weather is most often the cause, but other hazards – fires, motor vehicle crashes, and problems with electric distribution equipment – can also cause a loss of electrical power.

With another hard freeze expected to impact the Houston area, shoppers are once again heading to stores to stock up on cold-weather essentials.

FEMA suggests planning ahead and stocking up on nonperishable goods, however there are a few suggested ways to safely prepare food in the event of a power outage.

A large winter storm heading to Georgia this weekend could bring widespread power outages. Here's how to prepare for multiple days without power.