CLEVELAND — When the power goes out, you may be wondering how long the food in your refrigerator and freezer will last.
We’ve got you covered…
Here are some safety guidelines as listed by the FDA:
- Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature.
- The refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours if it is unopened.
- Refrigerated food should be safe as long as the power was out for no more than four hours and the refrigerator door was kept shut. Discard any perishable food (such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy or leftovers) that has been at temperatures above 40° F for two hours or more.
CLICK HERE to see a detailed list of specific foods and when they should be thrown away during a power outage.
- A full freezer will keep the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed.
- Buy dry or block ice to keep the refrigerator as cold as possible if the power is going to be out for a prolonged period of time. 50 pounds of dry ice should keep an 18 cubic foot, fully stocked freezer cold for two days.
- If an appliance thermometer was kept in the freezer, check the temperature when the power comes back on. If the freezer thermometer 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 its safety. You can’t rely on appearance or odor. If the food still contains ice crystals or is 40° F or below, it is safe to refreeze or cook.