Food Safety During Power Outage (2024)

FAQs

Food Safety During Power Outage? ›

After 4 hours, throw out perishable foods, such as raw meat, milk, and leftovers. During a power outage, foods in a half-full freezer are safe up to 24 hours. Like the refrigerator, remember to keep the freezer door closed as much as possible. If the freezer is full, food can stay safe up to 48 hours.

Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature. The refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will keep the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed.

During a Power Outage

Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. The refrigerator will keep food safe for up to 4 hours. If the power is off longer, you can transfer food to a cooler and fill with ice or frozen gel packs. Make sure there is enough ice to keep food in the cooler at 40°F or below.

Refrigerated foods that can be held at temperatures above 40ºF until power returns include: hard cheeses, butter, margarine, fresh fruits, fruit juice, fresh unpeeled vegetables, salad dressing, ketchup, mustard, olives, pickles, jams, jellies and peanut butter.

If the power's been out for more than four hours, refrigerated foods like milk, eggs, meats, poultry and fish should be thrown out, the CDC suggests.

Hard cheese, butter and margarine.

Well packaged products should remain safe; if odors or mold develops, discard the items.

Hard cheeses, like cheddar or swiss, are safe to keep in brick form. Soft cheeses and hard cheeses that have been shredded should be tossed if they were kept above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 hours or longer.

Turn off and unplug small appliances

Televisions, computer equipment, game consoles, fans, lights and all other smaller appliances should be unplugged, especially if they were in use when the power went out. Larger appliances, such as refrigerators, should not be unplugged.

Staples such as canned goods like beans, soup, and fish are good bets, as are items like nut butter and protein bars. Lastly, if you're anticipating a power outage, make some large ice bricks using takeout containers, gallon bags, or other sealable vessels to put in a cooler during a power outage.

Ice Blocks or Dry Ice

Ice cubes can be an excellent alternative to electricity when it comes to refrigeration. Before the power goes out, it is recommended to have some ice cubes on hand and store them in the freezer. These ice cubes act as a temporary coolant and help keep the temperature inside the freezer cool.

Can you flush the toilet when the power is out? ›

Depending on the amount of water remaining in the pipes, you might be able to flush your toilet several times while the power is out. Eventually, however, your tank won't fill up anymore because the pumps are down. When this happens, you will need to flush your toilet manually by pouring in a bucket of water.

Discard any perishable food (such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers) that has been above 40˚F for over two hours. Some homeowner's insurance policies or power companies cover the cost of food lost during a power outage.

A full freezer will hold a safe temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full and the door remains closed). Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40°F (4°C) or below, however, its quality may suffer. Never taste food to determine its safety.

Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away. Frozen leftovers will stay safe for a long time.

Do Fresh Eggs Need to Be Refrigerated? Freshly laid eggs need to be refrigerated immediately. Fresh eggs purchased from a farmers market need to be refrigerated as soon as you get home. Per USDA guidelines, eggs should be stored at 40 degrees F or below to help minimize the risk of Salmonella.

Bacteria can grow rapidly on food left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. If food is left out in a room or outdoors where the temperature is 90 degrees F or hotter, food should be refrigerated or discarded within just 1 hour. Myth: When I microwave food, the microwaves kill the bacteria.

Power Outage Expected to Last More Than a Day

An ice chest packed with ice or snow can keep food cold. Bags of ice or block ice can be purchased and placed in the refrigerator to keep food cold. Dry ice from a local ice company or grocery store can help save frozen food.

There is no definitive answer to this question as different types of food require different storage temperatures. However, as a general rule, refrigerated food should be kept at a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below.