Food Safety During a Power Outage
It should be safe as long as power is out for no more than four hours. Keep the door closed as much as possible. If you know a power outage is likely, freeze water in plastic bags (or purchase frozen cold packs) and pack the refrigerator with them as soon as the power goes out. A few on each shelf can help keep the food below 40˚F longer. Discard any perishable food (such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers) that has been above 40˚F for over two hours.
Some homeowner’s insurance policies or power companies cover the cost of food lost during a power outage. Check with your insurance company or power supplier to see if you can be reimbursed so you can restock when the power comes back on.
Download a PDF version of this guide here.
Discard Times for Refrigerated Foods After Power Outage
Meat, Poultry, Seafood | Held above |
Raw or leftover cooked meat, poultry, fish, seafood; soy meat substitutes | Discard |
Meat or poultry in the process of thawing | Discard |
Salads: meat, tuna, shrimp, chicken, egg | Discard |
Gravy, stuffing, broth | Discard |
Lunch meats, hot dogs, bacon, sausages, dried beef | Discard |
Pizza—with any topping | Discard |
Canned hams labeled “Keep Refrigerated” | Discard |
Canned meats and fish, opened | Discard |
Casseroles, soups, stews | Discard |
Cheese | Held above 40°F for over 2 Hours |
Soft cheeses: blue-veined, Roquefort, Brie, Camembert, cottage, cream, Edam, Monterey Jack, ricotta, mozzarella, Muenster, Neufchâtel, queso blanco, queso fresco | Discard |
| Hard cheeses: cheddar, Colby, Swiss, Parmesan, provolone, Romano | Safe |
| Processed cheeses | Safe |
| Shredded cheeses | Discard |
| Low-fat cheeses | Discard |
| Grated Parmesan, Romano, or combination (in can or jar) | Safe |
Dairy | Held above 40°F for over 2 Hours |
Milk, cream, sour cream, buttermilk, evaporated milk, yogurt, eggnog, soy milk | Discard |
| Butter, margarine | Safe |
| Baby formula, opened | Discard |
Eggs | Held above 40°F for over 2 Hours |
| Fresh eggs, hard-cooked in shell, egg dishes, egg products | Discard |
| Custards, puddings, quiche | Discard |
Fruits | Held above 40°F for over 2 Hours |
| Fresh fruits, cut | Discard |
| Fruit juices, opened | Safe |
| Canned fruits, opened | Safe |
| Fresh fruits, coconut, raisins, dried fruits, candied fruits, dates | Safe |
Sauces, Spreads, Jams | Held above 40°F for over 2 Hours |
| Opened mayonnaise, tartar sauce, horseradish | Discard if above 50°F for over 8 hours |
| Peanut butter | Safe |
| Jelly, relish, taco sauce, mustard, ketchup, olives, pickles | Safe |
| Worcestershire, soy, barbecue, hoisin sauces | Safe |
| Fish sauces, oyster sauce | Discard |
| Opened vinegar-based dressings | Safe |
| Opened creamy-based dressings | Discard |
| Spaghetti sauce, opened jar | Discard |
Breads, Cakes, Cookies, Pasta, Grains | Held above 40°F for over 2 Hours |
| Breads, rolls, cakes, muffins, quick breads, tortillas | Safe |
| Refrigerator biscuits, rolls, cookie dough | Discard |
| Cooked pasta, rice, potatoes | Discard |
| Pasta salads with mayonnaise or vinaigrette | Discard |
| Fresh pasta | Discard |
| Cheesecake | Discard |
| Breakfast foods—waffles, pancakes, bagels | Safe |
Pies, Pastries | Held above 40°F for over 2 Hours |
| Pastries, cream-filled | Discard |
| Pies—custard- or cheese-filled, or chiffon; quiche | Discard |
| Pies, fruit | Safe |
Vegetables | Held above 40°F for over 2 Hours |
| Fresh mushrooms, herbs, spices | Safe |
| Greens, pre-cut, pre-washed, packaged | Discard |
| Vegetables, raw | Safe |
| Vegetables, cooked; tofu | Discard |
| Vegetable juice, opened | Discard |
| Baked potatoes | Discard |
| Commercial garlic in oil | Discard |
| Potato salad | Discard |
| Casseroles, soups, stews | Discard |
Discard Times for Frozen Foods After Power Outage
Thawed or partially thawed food in the freezer may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40˚F or below. Partial thawing and refreezing may affect the quality of some food, but the food will be safe to eat. If you keep an appliance thermometer in your freezer, it’s easy to tell whether food is safe. When the power comes back on, check the thermometer. If it reads 40˚F or below, the food is safe and can be refrozen. Otherwise discard it.
Meats, Poultry, Seafood | Still Contains Ice Crystals and Feels as Cold as if Refrigerated | Held above 40°F for over 2 Hours |
| Beef, veal, lamb, pork, ground meats | Refreeze | Discard |
| Poultry, ground poultry | Refreeze | Discard |
Variety meats (liver, kidney, heart, chitterlings) | Refreeze | Discard |
| Casseroles, stews, soups | Refreeze | Discard |
Fish, shellfish, breaded seafood products | Refreeze, though there will be some texture and flavor loss | Discard |
Dairy | Still Contains Ice Crystals and Feels as Cold as if Refrigerated | Held above 40°F for over 2 Hours |
| Milk | Refreeze; may lose some texture | Discard |
| Eggs (out of shell) and egg products | Refreeze | Discard |
| Ice cream, frozen yogurt | Discard | Discard |
| Cheese (soft and semi-soft) | Refreeze; may lose some texture | Discard |
| Hard cheeses | Refreeze | Refreeze |
| Shredded cheeses | Refreeze | Discard |
Casseroles containing milk, cream, eggs, soft cheeses | Refreeze | Discard |
| Cheesecake | Refreeze | Discard |
Fruits | Still Contains Ice Crystals and Feels as Cold as if Refrigerated | Held above 40°F for over 2 Hours |
| Juices | Refreeze | Refreeze; discard if mold, yeasty smell, or sliminess develops |
| Home or commercially packaged | Refreeze; will change texture and flavor | Refreeze; discard if mold, yeasty smell, or sliminess develops |
Vegetables | Still Contains Ice Crystals and Feels as Cold as if Refrigerated | Held above 40°F for over 2 Hours |
| Juices | Refreeze | Discard after held above 40°F for 6 hours |
Home or commercially packaged or blanched | Refreeze; may suffer texture and flavor loss | Discard after held above 40°F for 6 hours |
Breads, Pastries | Still Contains Ice Crystals and Feels as Cold as if Refrigerated | Held above 40°F for over 2 Hours |
Breads, rolls, muffins, cakes (without custard fillings) | Refreeze | Refreeze |
Cakes, pies, pastries with custard or cheese filling | Refreeze | Discard |
Pie crusts, commercial and homemade bread dough | Refreeze; some quality loss may occur | Refreeze; quality loss is considerable |
Other | Still Contains Ice Crystals and Feels as Cold as if Refrigerated | Held above 40°F for over 2 Hours |
| Casseroles, pasta- or rice-based | Refreeze | Discard |
| Flour, cornmeal, nuts | Refreeze | Refreeze |
Breakfast items-–waffles, pancakes, bagels | Refreeze | Refreeze |
Frozen meals, entrées, specialty items (pizzas, sausage and biscuit sandwiches, meat pies, convenience foods) | Refreeze | Discard |
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