Power outage food safety checker
Power outage food safety checker
Enter how long power has been out, whether doors stayed closed, and what food you are checking. Guidance follows FoodSafety.gov / USDA thresholds — when in doubt, throw it out.
After that, temperature history matters. Perishables above 40°F for more than 2 hours should be discarded.
Keep the door shut. Food with ice crystals or at/below 40°F can be refrozen or cooked.
A less-full freezer warms faster. Check food temperature or ice crystals before keeping it.
Toss first if temperature is unsafe
- Raw or cooked meat, poultry, and seafood.
- Milk, soft cheeses, yogurt, eggs, and opened dairy.
- Cooked leftovers, soups, rice, pasta, casseroles, and gravy.
- Cut fruit, cut vegetables, leafy greens, and prepared salads.
Lower-risk foods still need judgment
- Hard cheeses, butter, whole fruit, and uncut vegetables may be lower risk.
- Vinegar-based condiments, mustard, ketchup, and pickles often keep better than meat or dairy.
- Any food with mold, off odors, leaking packaging, or unknown temperature history should still be discarded.
When power returns
Check appliance thermometers before moving food. For frozen food, look for ice crystals and confirm the food stayed at or below 40°F (4°C). Do not taste food to decide whether it is safe.
For more background, read the power outage fridge guide, the danger zone guide, and the refreezing decision tree.
Sources: FoodSafety.gov and USDA FSIS. Last reviewed 2026-06-28 by the FoodLasts Editorial Team.