How long food lasts in the fridge and freezer when the power goes out
With the doors kept shut, food stays safe for about 4 hours in a refrigerator, 48 hours in a full freezer and 24 hours in a half-full freezer, according to the CDC. After 4 hours without power, throw out refrigerated meat, poultry, fish, eggs and leftovers.
The numbers
From the CDC. A fridge should normally be at 40°F or below and a freezer at 0°F or below.
What to do when the power goes out
- Note the time. Every decision later depends on how long the power has been off.
- Keep the doors shut. Every opening lets the cold out.
- Get ice if it looks long. The CDC suggests buying dry ice or block ice to keep the fridge cold if the outage might last.
- Move essentials to a cooler with ice if the fridge is about to pass 4 hours.
When the power comes back
- Thawed frozen food can be refrozen or cooked if it still has ice crystals or is at 40°F or below (CDC).
- Throw out refrigerated perishables (meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, leftovers) that went more than 4 hours without power.
- Never taste food to check if it is safe. FoodSafety.gov's rule is simple: when in doubt, throw it out.
For item-by-item decisions, use the FoodSafety.gov charts for refrigerated and frozen food.
Common mistakes
- Opening the fridge to check on it. That is what spoils it.
- Tasting food to decide. FoodSafety.gov says never taste food to check if it is safe.
- Not knowing when the outage started, so you cannot tell if 4 hours have passed.
- Not having a thermometer, so you cannot check for 40°F when the power returns.
Gear for this
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Fridge and freezer thermometers
The only way to know if food stayed at 40°F or below. Cheap and they settle every argument.
A hard cooler that holds ice for days
Buys your fridge food extra time once the 4 hours are up.
Reusable ice packs
Keep a few frozen in the freezer at all times, so you have ice ready when the power goes.
A portable power station
Can run a fridge for a while in a short outage without the fumes of a generator. Check the wattage against your fridge.
Questions people ask
How long can a fridge go without power?
About 4 hours with the door kept shut, according to the CDC.
How long will a freezer stay frozen without power?
About 48 hours if full and 24 hours if half full, with the door kept shut.
Can you refreeze food that thawed in a power outage?
Yes, if it still has ice crystals or is at 40°F or below, says the CDC. The quality may drop.
Sources
Related entries
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General safety information only, not medical or professional advice. Rules can change, so check the linked sources and follow your local officials. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.