Power outage food safety: fridge 4 hours, freezer 48 hours if full

Before the power goes out

1. Put a thermometer in the fridge and the freezer. FSIS, FDA, FoodSafety.gov and CDC want the refrigerator at 40°F or below and the freezer at 0°F or below. After an outage, those appliance thermometers tell you whether food stayed safe. Our fridge thermometer guide covers the 40°F check. [S1] [S2] [S4] [S6]
2. Freeze water and gel packs ahead of time. FDA and FoodSafety.gov say to freeze containers of water and gel packs so you can keep food cold in the fridge, freezer or coolers. Melting ice can also supply drinking water if tap water is out. Our emergency water guide covers the gallon-per-person planning number. [S2] [S4]
3. Freeze what you won’t need right away. Leftovers, milk and fresh meat or poultry that can wait go into the freezer so they stay cold longer. Group food together in the freezer so it holds cold better. [S1] [S2] [S4]
4. Have a cooler ready. Perishable foods stay safe in a refrigerator only about 4 hours. If power may be out longer, FSIS and FDA say to move food to a cooler with ice or frozen gel packs and keep that cooler at 40°F or below. [S1] [S2]
5. Know where dry ice and block ice are sold. Plan that before a long outage, not after every store is dark. [S1] [S2] [S4]

During the outage

1. Keep the doors closed. Ready.gov’s food tip is blunt: keep freezers and refrigerators closed. FSIS, FDA, FoodSafety.gov and CDC say the same. Every open door dumps cold air. [S1] [S2] [S3] [S5] [S6]
2. Fridge clock: about 4 hours. A refrigerator keeps food safe for up to about 4 hours if it stays closed. After that without a cold source, discard refrigerated perishables such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk and leftovers. [S1] [S2] [S3] [S6]
3. Freezer clock: about 48 hours full, 24 half full. A full freezer holds temperature about 48 hours if unopened. A half-full freezer holds about 24 hours if the door stays closed. [S1] [S2] [S3] [S5] [S6]
4. Move fridge food to a cooler after 4 hours. If power is still out and you have ice, FSIS and CDC say to put refrigerated perishables in a cooler and keep them at 40°F or below. Add ice as it melts. [S1] [S6]
5. Do not use the snowbank as a fridge. FSIS and FoodSafety.gov warn that outside temperatures vary and food can pick up dirt or animals. Make ice outdoors instead, then use that ice inside the fridge, freezer or cooler. [S1] [S4]
6. Generators stay outdoors. Ready.gov says use a generator only outdoors and away from windows, and never use a gas stove or oven to heat the home. Our portable generator guide covers the 20-foot exhaust rule. [S5]

When the power comes back

1. Never taste to check safety. FSIS, FDA, FoodSafety.gov, Ready.gov and CDC all say never taste food to decide if it is safe. When in doubt, throw it out. [S1] [S2] [S3] [S5] [S6]
2. Check the freezer thermometer. If an appliance thermometer stayed in the freezer and reads 40°F or below when power returns, FDA and FoodSafety.gov say the food is safe and may be refrozen. [S2] [S4]
3. No thermometer? Check each package. Food that still has ice crystals, or that is at 40°F or below, may be safely refrozen or cooked. You can’t rely on appearance or odor alone. [S2] [S3] [S4]
4. Fridge perishables after more than 4 hours. Discard refrigerated perishable food (meat, poultry, seafood, milk, eggs, leftovers and similar items) that has been above 40°F for 4 hours or more. FoodSafety.gov’s chart lists keep-versus-discard by food type. Leftover rules on ordinary days still apply once power is stable; see our leftovers guide. [S1] [S2] [S3]
5. Hard cheeses, butter and whole produce often keep. FSIS and FoodSafety.gov list hard cheeses, butter or margarine, and whole fresh fruits and vegetables among foods that are generally still usable after a fridge outage, unless they turn moldy or smell off. Soft cheeses, cut produce, milk, eggs and leftovers go. [S1] [S3]
6. Ice cream is a discard. FoodSafety.gov’s frozen chart says discard ice cream and frozen yogurt whether or not ice crystals remain. [S3]

Ice and dry ice tips

1. Block ice or dry ice for a long outage. FSIS and FDA say fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic-foot full freezer for about 2 days. [S1] [S2]
2. Dry ice caution. FSIS says do not touch dry ice with bare hands and do not place it in direct contact with food. [S1]
3. Keep cooler food at 40°F or below. Use enough ice or gel packs, and add more as ice melts. Check with a thermometer. [S1] [S6]

Check your outage

Pick how long the power has been out and what you are checking. The answer puts the FSIS, FDA, FoodSafety.gov and CDC steps in one place. It doesn’t replace a thermometer reading. [S1] [S2] [S3] [S6]

Outage checklist

Quick answers