The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends to always keep meat, poultry, fish, and eggs refrigerated at or below 40 °F and frozen food at or below 0 °F. This may be difficult when the power is out.
Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature. The refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed. Obtain dry or block ice to keep your refrigerator as cold as possible if the power is going to be out for a prolonged period of time. Fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic foot full freezer for 2 days. Plan ahead and know where dry ice and block ice can be purchased.
A snowstorm knocked down the power lines, can I put the food from the refrigerator and freezer out in the snow?
No, frozen food can thaw if it is exposed to the sun’s rays even when the temperature is very cold. Refrigerated food may become too warm and foodborne bacteria could grow. The outside temperature could vary hour by hour and the temperature outside will not protect refrigerated and frozen food. Additionally, perishable items could be exposed to unsanitary conditions or to animals. Animals may harbor bacteria or disease; never consume food that has come in contact with an animal. Rather than putting the food outside, consider taking advantage of the cold temperatures by making ice. Fill buckets, empty milk cartons or cans with water and leave them outside to freeze. Then put the homemade ice in your refrigerator, freezer, or coolers.
Some of my food in the freezer started to thaw or had thawed when the power came back on. Is the food safe? How long will the food in the refrigerator be safe with the power off?
Never taste food to determine its safety! You will have to evaluate each item separately. If an appliance thermometer was kept in the freezer, read the temperature when the power comes back on. If the appliance thermometer stored in the freezer reads 40 °F or below, the food is safe and may be refrozen. If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, check each package of food to determine the safety. Remember you cant rely on appearance or odor. If the food still contains ice crystals or is 40 °F or below, it is safe to refreeze. Refrigerated food should be safe as long as power is out no more than 4 hours. Keep the door closed as much as possible. Discard any perishable food (such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers) that have been above 40 °F for 2 hours.
May I refreeze the food in the freezer if it thawed or partially thawed?
Yes, the food may be safely refrozen if the food still contains ice crystals or is at 40 °F or below. You will have to evaluate each item separately. Be sure to discard any items in either the freezer or the refrigerator that have come into contact with raw meat juices. Partial thawing and refreezing may reduce the quality of some food, but the food will remain safe to eat. See the attached charts for specific recommendations.
| Refrigerated Foods – When to Save and When to Throw It Out | |
| FOOD | Held above 40 °F for over 2 hours |
| MEAT, POULTRY, SEAFOOD Raw or leftover cooked meat, poultry, fish, or seafood; soy meat substitutes |
Discard |
| Thawing meat or poultry |
Discard |
| 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 |
| CHEESE Soft Cheeses: blue/bleu, Roquefort, Brie, Camembert, cottage, cream, Edam, Monterey Jack, ricotta, mozzarella, Muenster, Neufchatel, queso blanco, queso fresco |
Discard |
| Hard Cheeses: Cheddar, Colby, Swiss, Parmesan, provolone, Romano |
Safe |
| Processed Cheeses |
Safe |
| Shredded Cheeses |
Discard |
| Low-fat Cheeses |
Discard |
| Grated Parmesan, Romano, or combination (in can or jar) |
Safe |
| DAIRY Milk, cream, sour cream, buttermilk, evaporated milk, yogurt, eggnog, soy milk |
Discard |
| Butter, margarine |
Safe |
| Baby formula, opened |
Discard |
| EGGS Fresh eggs, hard-cooked in shell, egg dishes, egg products |
Discard |
| Custards and puddings |
Discard |
| CASSEROLES, SOUPS, STEWS |
Discard |
| FRUITS Fresh fruits, cut |
Discard |
| Fruit juices, opened |
Safe |
| Canned fruits, opened |
Safe |
| Fresh fruits, coconut, raisins, dried fruits, candied fruits, dates |
Safe |
| SAUCES, SPREADS, JAMS Opened mayonnaise, tartar sauce, horseradish |
Discard if above 50 °F for over 8 hrs. |
| Peanut butter |
Safe |
| Jelly, relish, taco sauce, mustard, catsup, olives, pickles |
Safe |
| Worcestershire, soy, barbecue, Hoisin sauces |
Safe |
| Fish sauces (oyster sauce) |
Discard |
| Opened vinegar-based dressings |
Safe |
| Opened creamy-based dressings |
Discard |
| Spaghetti sauce, opened jar |
Discard |
| BREAD, CAKES, COOKIES, PASTA, GRAINS Bread, rolls, cakes, muffins, quick breads, tortillas |
Safe |
| 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 |
Safe |
| PIES, PASTRY Pastries, cream filled |
Discard |
| Pies—custard,cheese filled, or chiffon; quiche |
Discard |
| Pies, fruit |
Safe |
| VEGETABLES Fresh mushrooms, herbs, spices |
Safe |
| Greens, pre-cut, pre-washed, packaged |
Discard |
| Vegetables, raw |
Safe |
| Vegetables, cooked; tofu |
Discard |
| Vegetable juice, opened |
Discard |
| Baked potatoes |
Discard |
| Commercial garlic in oil |
Discard |
| Potato Salad |
Discard |
| Frozen Foods – When to Save and When To Throw It Out | ||
| FOOD | Still contains ice crystals and feels as cold as if refrigerated | Thawed. Held above 40 °F for over 2 hours |
| MEAT, POULTRY, SEAFOOD Beef, veal, lamb, pork, and ground meats |
Refreeze |
Discard |
| Poultry and ground poultry |
Refreeze |
Discard |
| Variety meats (liver, kidney, heart, chitterlings) |
Refreeze |
Discard |
| Casseroles, stews, soups |
Refreeze |
Discard |
| Fish, shellfish, breaded seafood products |
Refreeze. However, there will be some texture and flavor loss. |
Discard |
| DAIRY Milk |
Refreeze. May lose some texture. |
Discard |