Food Safety During Power Outage (2024)

Meat, poultry, seafoodRaw or leftover cooked meat, poultry, fish, or seafood;
soy meat substitutesDiscardThawing meat or poultryDiscardSalads: Meat, tuna, shrimp, chicken, or egg saladDiscardGravy, stuffing, brothDiscardLunchmeats, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, dried beefDiscardPizza with any toppingDiscardCanned hams labeled "Keep Refrigerated"DiscardCanned meats and fish, openedDiscardCasseroles, soups, stewsDiscardCheeseSoft cheeses: blue/bleu, Roquefort, Brie, Camembert, cottage, cream, Edam, Monterey Jack, ricotta, mozzarella, Muenster, Neufchatel, queso blanco, queso frescoDiscardHard cheeses: Cheddar, Colby, Swiss, Parmesan, provolone, RomanoKeepProcessed cheesesKeepShredded cheesesDiscardLow-fat cheesesDiscardGrated Parmesan, Romano, or combination (in can or jar)KeepDairyMilk, cream, sour cream, buttermilk, evaporated milk, yogurt, eggnog, soy milkDiscardButter, margarineKeepBaby formula, openedDiscardEggsFresh shell eggs, eggs hard-cooked in shell, egg dishes, egg productsDiscardCustards and puddings, quicheDiscardFruitsFresh fruits, cutDiscardFresh fruits, uncutKeepFruit juices, openedKeepCanned fruits, openedKeepDried fruits, raisins, candied fruits, datesKeepSliced or shredded coconutDiscardSauces, Spreads, JamsOpened mayonnaise, tartar sauce, horseradishDiscard
(if above 50°F (10°C) for more than 8 hrs)Peanut butterKeepJelly, relish, taco sauce, mustard, catsup, olives, picklesKeepWorcestershire, soy, barbecue, hoisin saucesKeepFish sauces, oyster sauceDiscardOpened vinegar-based dressingsKeepOpened creamy-based dressingsDiscardSpaghetti sauce, openedDiscardBread, cakes, cookies, pasta, grainsBread, rolls, cakes, muffins, quick breads, tortillasKeepRefrigerator biscuits, rolls, cookie doughDiscardCooked pasta, rice, potatoesDiscardPasta salads with mayonnaise or vinaigretteDiscardFresh pastaDiscardCheesecakeDiscardBreakfast foods: waffles, pancakes, bagelsKeepPies and pastryCream filled pastriesDiscardPies: Any with filling containing eggs or milk, e.g., custard, cheese-filled, or chiffon; quiche.DiscardFruit piesKeepVegetablesFresh vegetables, cutDiscardFresh vegetables, uncutKeepFresh mushrooms, herbs, spicesKeepGreens, pre-cut, pre-washed, packagedDiscardVegetables, cookedDiscardTofu, cookedDiscardVegetable juice, openedDiscardBaked potatoesDiscardCommercial garlic in oilDiscardPotato saladDiscardCasseroles, soups, stewsDiscard
Food Safety During Power Outage (2024)

FAQs

How long can food stay safe during power outage? ›

Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature. The refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will keep the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed.

What are the CDC guidelines for food after a power outage? ›

Never taste food to determine if it is safe to eat. When in doubt, throw it out. Throw out perishable food in your refrigerator (meat, fish, cut fruits and vegetables, eggs, milk, and leftovers) after 4 hours without power or a cold source like dry ice. Throw out any food with an unusual odor, color, or texture.

What foods are safe from power outage? ›

Refrigerated foods that can be held at temperatures above 40ºF until power returns include: hard cheeses, butter, margarine, fresh fruits, fruit juice, fresh unpeeled vegetables, salad dressing, ketchup, mustard, olives, pickles, jams, jellies and peanut butter.

How do you keep food fresh during a power outage? ›

During a Power Outage

Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. The refrigerator will keep food safe for up to 4 hours. If the power is off longer, you can transfer food to a cooler and fill with ice or frozen gel packs. Make sure there is enough ice to keep food in the cooler at 40°F or below.

Are eggs still good in a power outage? ›

As the USDA notes in Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency, your refrigerator will keep food safe for up to 4 hours during a power outage. Keep the door closed as much as possible. Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers after 4 hours without power.

What condiments to throw out after a power outage? ›

Discard opened mayonnaise, horseradish and tartar sauce if held above 50o F for more than 8 hours. Discard milk, cream, sour cream, yogurt, cream cheese, soy milk and eggs if held above 40o F for more than 2 hours.

How long does cheese last in the fridge without power? ›

Hard cheeses, like cheddar or swiss, are safe to keep in brick form. Soft cheeses and hard cheeses that have been shredded should be tossed if they were kept above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 hours or longer.

What food is shelf stable for power outage? ›

Good options include low-sodium canned beans, vegetables, fruit (packed in fruit juice), breakfast cereal, peanut butter, pouches of fully cooked whole grains, nuts, whole-wheat crackers, snack bars, and shelf-stable milk or plant milk (the kind sold in aseptic boxes in the grocery aisle).

How to preserve food without electricity? ›

Non-Electric Fresh Food Preservation
  1. Root cellars to preserve the harvest.
  2. Tater Holes – Simple, low-tech food preservation.
  3. Staple food preservation – Freezing beans and grains to kill bugs.
  4. Drying to preserve the harvest.
  5. Periodic checks for bugs and rot.

Do I have to throw out butter after a power outage? ›

Hard cheese, butter and margarine.

Well packaged products should remain safe; if odors or mold develops, discard the items.

How to keep meat frozen without power? ›

You can also consider buying dry ice in the event of a power outage. Fifty pounds of dry ice will keep a closed freezer or a cooler cold for between 18 and 24 hours. Just be sure to handle it safely and avoid touching it with your bare hands.

How do you cook food when the power is out? ›

Here are 8 alternative ways you can cook without electricity:
  1. Solar Cooker. What better way to cook in nature than utilizing the power of the sun? ...
  2. Rocket Stoves. ...
  3. Open Fire. ...
  4. Folding Steel Stove. ...
  5. Kelly Kettle. ...
  6. Portable Butane Stoves. ...
  7. Volcano Stoves. ...
  8. Car Engine.

Is it safe to eat food left out for 4 hours? ›

Myth: You shouldn't put hot foods in the refrigerator.

If you leave food out to cool and forget about it after 2 hours, throw it away. Bacteria can grow rapidly on food left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

Can you put ice bags in the fridge during a power outage? ›

Power Outage Expected to Last More Than a Day

An ice chest packed with ice or snow can keep food cold. Bags of ice or block ice can be purchased and placed in the refrigerator to keep food cold. Dry ice from a local ice company or grocery store can help save frozen food.

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