Food safety during and after a power outage

Power outages can happen suddenly due to storms or equipment failure. While this can seem like a temporary inconvenience or annoyance, this can pose a big threat to the safety of your food. Without electricity, refrigerators and freezers are not able to maintain safe temperatures, putting food at risk of spoiling and causing foodborne illnesses.

Keep reading to learn how to keep your food safe during and after a power outage.

Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed

During a power outage, limit the number of times you open the refrigerator and freezer to keep the air inside cold. An unopened fridge will keep food cold for about 4 hours, while a full freezer can maintain its temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it's half-full).

Use ice wisely

If the power is off for more than 4 hours, you can transfer food to a cooler and fill it with ice. Make sure there is enough ice to keep for in the cooler at 40°F or below. Add more ice to the cooler as it melts.

Never taste food to check if it’s spoiled

Tasting food to see if it’s bad is risky. Some harmful bacteria do not change the taste, smell, or appearance of food. If in doubt, throw away the item to avoid getting sick.

Check the temperature when your power is restored

After your power is restored, check the temperatures of your fridge and freezer with a thermometer. Ensure they are at safe levels. The refrigerator should be at 40°F (4°C) or below, and the freezer should be at 0°F (-18°C) or lower.

If your fridge and freezer are not at a safe temperature, you should throw away the perishable food such as meat, dairy, and other prepared foods.

Remember, safety first. When it doubt, throw it out!