How to Eat Safe After a Power Outage

Safe Temperatures

• Purchase appliance thermometers so you can monitor temperatures if the power goes out.
• Keep the refrigerator at forty degrees Fahrenheit or below.
• Keep the freezer at zero degrees Fahrenheit or below.

Keep Doors Closed

• Try not to open refrigerator and freezer doors to maintain cold temperatures and protect food.
• A refrigerator will keep food fresh for about four hours if unopened.
• A freezer will keep food safe for forty-eight hours if packed or twenty-four hours if half-full.

Have Ice and a Cooler On-Hand

Keep extra bags of ice or gel packs in the freezer to help food stay cold. Use the ice in a cooler if you transfer the food to a different location.

Move Food into the Freezer

If possible, move perishable foods like milk, meat and leftovers into the freezer or cooler at the start of a power outage.

Group frozen foods together to help them stay colder for a longer period of time.

Check the Temperature

If the power comes back on within four hours, food is safe to eat if the appliance thermometers are still at safe temperatures – forty degrees Fahrenheit or below in the refrigerator and zero degrees Fahrenheit or below in the freezer.

Perishable Foods

After four hours, if the temperature has dropped below forty degrees in the refrigerator, items such as meat, poultry, seafood, milk, eggs and leftovers should be tossed.

Frozen Foods

Discard any foods that have fully thawed or at temperatures above forty degrees Fahrenheit.

When in doubt, throw it out. Never taste-test food to see if it’s okay.