Power Outage: Is Food in the Fridge Still Safe?
- 2 cited USDA/FDA/FSIS sources
- Content updated 2026-09-04
Exact references cover 4 of 5 detected claims in the English guide. The remaining statements have not completed exact-source review. References alone do not confirm every claim; normal smell or appearance does not prove safety.
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed during an outage. A full freezer holds a safe temperature for about 48 hours; a half-full freezer about 24 hours. A fridge stays cold for about 4 hours if unopened.
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.
During the outage
- Do not open the fridge unless necessary.
- Transfer ice packs or dry ice to the freezer if available.
- Use a thermometer when power returns — discard perishables above 40°F for more than 2 hours.
When power returns
- Check each item with a thermometer or ice-crystal test in the freezer.
- Discard meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers above 40°F for 2+ hours.
- Hard cheese, whole fruits, and opened vinegar-based condiments may be OK — use judgment and our food pages.
Freezer still has ice crystals
Check the food-specific row in the federal outage chart. Many foods with ice crystals or held at 40°F or below can be refrozen, with quality loss. Ice cream and frozen yogurt are exceptions: the chart says discard.
Related on FoodLasts
Guides: Fridge temperature zones · Danger zone
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Sources: FoodSafety.gov — Food Safety During Power Outage , USDA FSIS — Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency . Content updated 2026-09-04. See the exact-source coverage above.