Whether planned or unplanned, a power outage cause raises a lot of questions, especially regarding whether it’s still safe to eat the food in your refrigerator and freezer.
If the power outage is pre-scheduled, you can lower the temperature settings of your fridge and freezer so they can stay colder for longer. You can also buy ice to keep your food colder or prepare a cooler to transfer your refrigerated food to, which is recommended after 4 hours without power.
During the power outage, keep the freezer and refrigerator doors closed as much as possible. If doors stay closed, food will remain safe for up to 4 hours in a refrigerator, 48 hours in a full freezer, and 24 hours in a half-full freezer. If your power is out for more than four hours, transfer your food to a cooler at 40 degrees or below. If food temperature rises above 40 degrees, it should be thrown out. Below you can find what foods should be discarded and what can be salvaged from the refrigerator and freezer.
What to discard after being above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 2 hours:
- Raw, thawing, or cooked meat, poultry, fish, seafood, or meat substitutes
- Salads with added protein, such as chicken, fish, or egg salad
- Soups, stews, casseroles, and broth/sauce
- Lunch meat
- Canned foods labeled “keep refrigerated” or any opened canned goods
- Soft cheeses (blue, brie, cottage, cream, etc.)
- Shredded or low-fat cheeses
- All dairy and opened baby formula
- All types of eggs
- Custards and pudding
- Cut up fruit and veggies
- Creamy-based dressings
- Refrigerator biscuits, rolls, and cookie dough
- Pasta, rice, and potato dishes, pizza, and any leftovers
- Cheesecake, pies, and cream-filled pastries
Food that can be refrigerated and eaten even after 2 hours at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or higher:
- Hard cheeses (cheddar, Colby, Swiss, parmesan, etc.)
- Butter/margarine
- Whole, un-cut fruit and veggies
- Canned or dried fruit and fruit juices
- Peanut butter, jelly, relish, mustard, taco sauce, olives, and pickles
- Vinegar-based dressings
- Bread, tortillas, rolls, cakes, and breakfast foods (waffles, pancakes, and bagels)
Freezer items that can be refrozen if found with ice crystals and are less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit:
- All meat
- Soups and stews
- Milk and egg products
- Cheese and cheesecake
- Fruit and fruit juices
- Veggies and vegetable juice
- Cakes, pies, and custard or cheese-filled pastries
- Casseroles and frozen meals
- Breakfast foods (waffles, pancakes, and bagels)
Most of these items should be discarded if thawed and held above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for over two hours. The only things that can be refrozen after thawing are:
- Hard cheeses
- Fruit and veggies
- Juices
- Flour, nuts, and cornmeal
- Pie crusts, bread, bread dough, and breakfast foods (waffles, pancakes, and bagels)
If thawed and refrozen, check all food for mold or off smells to be safe. Never taste food to see if it is still safe to eat. Your safest bet is to throw out all food above 40 degrees Fahrenheit after two hours. As unfortunate as it is for food to be wasted, it is not worth getting seriously sick over. These fresh, perishable foods also come at a cost, so check your insurance to see if food replacement might be covered. Some homeowners’ insurance covers food replacement after a power outage!
About the Author: Talia Schwalb
Talia Schwalb is the Wellness and Fitness Program Manager with BaySport at SRI in Menlo Park, CA. Talia fell in love with exercise at a young age and went on to receive her B.S. in Kinesiology from Cal Poly, SLO, in 2016 and has been working in corporate wellness ever since. She is a certified personal trainer and loves staying active by lifting, doing HIIT, and hiking with her dog, Nala!
Sources:
https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2021/food-safety-when-power-is-out.html
https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/food-safety-during-a-power-outage.html
https://www.cspinet.org/protecting-our-health/food-safety/food-safety-during-power-outage
https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/food-safety-during-power-outage
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