Power outages can happen unexpectedly, especially during severe weather. Knowing what to do when the power goes out is crucial for ensuring food safety and preventing foodborne illnesses. A key concern during a power outage is how long your refrigerated and frozen food will remain safe to eat.
Generally, your refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about 4 hours if it remains unopened. A full freezer can maintain its temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) with the door closed. These times are estimates and depend on factors such as the initial temperature of the food, the ambient temperature, and how well your refrigerator and freezer are sealed.
To prepare for potential power outages, it’s wise to take proactive steps. Ensure you have appliance thermometers in both your refrigerator and freezer to monitor temperatures. The freezer should be at 0°F or below, and the refrigerator at 40°F or below. These thermometers will be invaluable during an outage to assess food safety. Consider freezing containers of water to create ice, which can be used in the freezer, refrigerator, or coolers to help maintain cold temperatures. These frozen containers can also serve as a source of drinking water if your normal supply is compromised. Freezing items like leftovers, milk, and fresh meat and poultry in advance can also help them stay safe for longer during an outage. Grouping food together in the freezer helps it stay colder for extended periods.
During a power outage, it is essential to keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature inside. Avoid opening them unnecessarily to prolong the safe storage time of your food. If you anticipate a prolonged power outage, consider purchasing dry ice or block ice to help keep your refrigerator as cold as possible. Fifty pounds of dry ice can keep an 18 cubic foot, fully stocked freezer cold for two days.
Once power is restored, it’s crucial to determine the safety of your food. If you have a freezer thermometer, check the temperature reading when the power comes back on. If it reads 40°F or below, the food is likely safe and can be refrozen. If you didn’t have a thermometer, inspect each food package. Do not rely on appearance or odor to determine safety. If food still contains ice crystals or is at 40°F or below, it is safe to refreeze or cook.
For refrigerated food, if the power outage lasted no more than 4 hours and the doors remained closed, the food should be safe. However, after power is restored, check the refrigerator temperature or the food temperature. Discard any perishable food (like meat, poultry, seafood, milk, eggs, or leftovers) that has been at temperatures above 40°F for 4 hours or more. Perishable foods that are 45°F or below can be cooked and consumed as soon as possible. Remember, perishable food that has not been adequately refrigerated can cause illness, even if thoroughly cooked. When in doubt, it is always best to err on the side of caution and discard potentially unsafe food to prevent foodborne illness.
