Power outages can happen unexpectedly, and one of the immediate concerns for many households is food safety, especially regarding refrigerated items. Knowing how long food remains safe in your refrigerator during a power outage is crucial to prevent foodborne illnesses and minimize food waste. This guide provides essential information on how to manage your refrigerated food when the power goes out, ensuring your family’s safety and well-being.
Understanding Food Safety During a Power Outage
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) advises that your refrigerator will keep food at a safe temperature for up to 4 hours during a power outage, provided you keep the door closed as much as possible. The key is maintaining a temperature below 40°F (4°C). After 4 hours at temperatures above 40°F, perishable foods enter the “danger zone” where bacteria can multiply rapidly, increasing the risk of food poisoning. This guideline is critical for all perishable foods like meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, and leftovers.
It’s important to remember that you should never taste food to determine its safety after a power outage. When in doubt, it is always best to discard potentially unsafe items. To help you make informed decisions, refer to the detailed chart below for specific food categories.
Refrigerated Food Safety Chart: When to Save and When to Discard
This chart provides a comprehensive guide on whether to keep or discard refrigerated foods after a power outage, based on how long they have been exposed to temperatures above 40°F (4°C).
| Type of Food | Exposed to temperatures above 40°F (4°C) for more than 2 hours |
|---|---|
| Meat, Poultry, Seafood | |
| Raw or cooked meat, poultry, fish, or seafood; soy meat substitutes | Discard |
| Thawing meat or poultry | Discard |
| Salads: Meat, tuna, shrimp, chicken, or egg salad | Discard |
| Gravy, stuffing, broth | Discard |
| Lunchmeats, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, dried beef | Discard |
| Pizza with any topping | Discard |
| Canned hams labeled “Keep Refrigerated” | Discard |
| Canned meats and fish, opened | Discard |
| Casseroles, soups, stews | Discard |
| Cheese | |
| Soft cheeses: Blue cheese, Roquefort, Brie, Camembert, Cottage cheese, Cream cheese, Edam, Monterey Jack, Ricotta, Mozzarella, Muenster, Neufchatel, Queso blanco, Queso fresco | Discard |
| Hard cheeses: Cheddar, Colby, Swiss, Parmesan, Provolone, Romano | Keep |
| Processed cheeses | Keep |
| Shredded cheeses | Discard |
| Low-fat cheeses | Discard |
| Grated Parmesan, Romano, or combination (in can or jar) | Keep |
| Dairy | |
| Milk, cream, sour cream, buttermilk, evaporated milk, yogurt, eggnog, soy milk | Discard |
| Butter, margarine | Keep |
| Baby formula, opened | Discard |
| Eggs | |
| Fresh shell eggs, hard-cooked eggs in shell, egg dishes, egg products | Discard |
| Custards and puddings, quiche | Discard |
| Fruits | |
| Fresh fruits, cut | Discard |
| Fresh fruits, uncut | Keep |
| Fruit juices, opened | Keep |
| Canned fruits, opened | Keep |
| Dried fruits, raisins, candied fruits, dates | Keep |
| Sliced or shredded coconut | Discard |
| Sauces, Spreads, Jams | |
| Opened mayonnaise, tartar sauce, horseradish | Discard (if above 50°F (10°C) for more than 8 hours) |
| Peanut butter | Keep |
| Jelly, relish, taco sauce, mustard, ketchup, olives, pickles | Keep |
| Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, barbecue sauce, hoisin sauce | Keep |
| Fish sauces, oyster sauce | Discard |
| Opened vinegar-based dressings | Keep |
| Opened creamy-based dressings | Discard |
| Spaghetti sauce, opened | Discard |
| Bread, Cakes, Cookies, Pasta, Grains | |
| Bread, rolls, cakes, muffins, quick breads, tortillas | Keep |
| Refrigerator biscuits, rolls, cookie dough | Discard |
| Cooked pasta, rice, potatoes | Discard |
| Pasta salads with mayonnaise or vinaigrette | Discard |
| Fresh pasta | Discard |
| Cheesecake | Discard |
| Breakfast foods: waffles, pancakes, bagels | Keep |
| Pies and Pastry | |
| Cream filled pastries | Discard |
| Pies: Any with filling containing eggs or milk, e.g., custard, cheese-filled, or chiffon; quiche | Discard |
| Fruit pies | Keep |
| Vegetables | |
| Fresh vegetables, cut | Discard |
| Fresh vegetables, uncut | Keep |
| Fresh mushrooms, herbs, spices | Keep |
| Greens, pre-cut, pre-washed, packaged | Discard |
| Vegetables, cooked | Discard |
| Tofu, cooked | Discard |
| Vegetable juice, opened | Discard |
| Baked potatoes | Discard |
| Commercial garlic in oil | Discard |
| Potato salad | Discard |
| Casseroles, soups, stews | Discard |
What About Frozen Food During a Power Outage?
Your freezer offers a longer window of safety compared to your refrigerator during a power outage. A full freezer will maintain a safe temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full), assuming the door remains closed. Food in the freezer that still contains ice crystals or feels as cold as if refrigerated (40°F or below) can be safely refrozen, although there might be some loss in quality, particularly in texture. However, similar to refrigerated food, never taste frozen food to determine its safety. Use the following chart as a guide.
Frozen Food Safety Chart: When to Refreeze or Discard
This chart helps determine whether frozen foods are safe to refreeze or should be discarded after a power outage.
| Type of food | Contains ice crystals and feels cold as if refrigerated | Exposed to temperatures above 40°F (4°C) for more than 2 hours |
|---|---|---|
| Meat, Poultry, Seafood | ||
| Meat, poultry, seafood – all types of cuts | Refreeze | Discard |
| Stews, soups | Refreeze | Discard |
| Dairy | ||
| Milk | Refreeze (some loss of texture) | Discard |
| Eggs (out of shell) and egg products | Refreeze | Discard |
| Ice cream, frozen yogurt | Discard | Discard |
| Cheese (soft and semi-soft) | Refreeze (some loss of texture) | Discard |
| Hard cheeses | Refreeze | Refreeze |
| Shredded cheeses | Refreeze | Discard |
| Cheesecake | Refreeze | Discard |
| Fruits | ||
| Juices | Refreeze | Refreeze (discard if mold, yeasty smell, or sliminess develops) |
| Home or commercially packaged | Refreeze (will change texture and flavor) | Refreeze (discard if mold, yeasty smell, or sliminess develops) |
| Vegetables | ||
| Juices | Refreeze | Discard after held above 40°F (4°C) for 6 hours |
| Home or commercially packaged or blanched | Refreeze (may suffer texture and flavor loss) | Discard after held above 40°F (4°C) for 6 hours |
| Breads and pastries | ||
| Breads, rolls, muffins, cakes (without custard fillings) | Refreeze | Refreeze |
| Cakes, pies, pastries with custard or cheese filling | Refreeze | Discard |
| Pie crusts, commercial and homemade bread dough | Refreeze (some quality loss may occur) | Refreeze (quality loss is considerable) |
| Other Foods | ||
| Casseroles: pasta, rice-based | Refreeze | Discard |
| Flour, cornmeal, nuts | Refreeze | Refreeze |
| Breakfast items: waffles, pancakes, bagels | Refreeze | Refreeze |
| Frozen meal, entree, specialty item (pizza, sausage and biscuit, meat pie, convenience foods) | Refreeze | Discard |
Tips to Prepare for Power Outages and Food Safety
Being prepared for a power outage can significantly reduce food loss and ensure safety. Here are some helpful tips:
- Keep appliance thermometers in your refrigerator and freezer: These will help you monitor the temperature in case of a power outage. The refrigerator should be at 40°F (4°C) or below, and the freezer at 0°F (-18°C) or below.
- Freeze containers of water: These frozen blocks can help keep food cold in the refrigerator, freezer, or coolers during an outage.
- Have coolers on hand: If you anticipate a prolonged outage, coolers can extend the safe storage time for your refrigerated food.
- Group food together in the freezer: This helps the food stay cold longer.
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed: This is crucial to maintain the temperature for as long as possible. Avoid opening them unnecessarily.
- Know your power outage plan: Contact your local utility company to understand their outage reporting and estimated restoration times.
Conclusion: Food Safety First
Understanding how long food lasts in the fridge without power is essential for every household. By following these guidelines and taking proactive steps to prepare for power outages, you can protect yourself and your family from foodborne illnesses and minimize food waste. Remember, when it comes to food safety during a power outage, “When in Doubt, Throw it Out!” is the safest motto to live by. Stay informed, stay prepared, and stay safe.
