How long will food stay good in freezer without power

During and after a prolonged power failure, the foods you keep in the refrigerator and freezer may become unsafe to eat. Bacteria can build up in perishable foods which may cause foodborne illness. The most common symptoms of foodborne illness may include stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever. While the power is out, keep the freezer and refrigerator doors closed-avoid opening and closing the doors to check the food inside. Food will keep for 24 to 48 hours in the freezer and for 12 to 24 hours in the fridge.

Table of Contents Show

Your Refrigerator
The Proper Refrigerator Temperature
How Long Refrigerated Food Is Safe to Eat
What Happens After Four Hours?
Foods to Pitch
Foods You Can Keep
Your Freezer
The Proper Freezer Temperature
How Long Frozen Food Is Safe to Eat

If your power has been out for 24 hours, all food in your refrigerator must be disposed of; after 48 hours, all food in both your refrigerator and freezer must be thrown out and the appliance cleaned and sanitized.

Here is some advice to help in making sure your food is stored safely if the power goes out:

Your freezer:

Without electrical power, a full upright or chest freezer will keep food frozen for about 2 days.
A half-full freezer will keep food frozen for 1 day.
Ice could help to keep the freezer remain cold.
Throw out any thawed food that has been sitting at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Partial thawing and refreezing may reduce the quality of some food, but it will remain safe to eat.

Your refrigerator-freezer combination:

Without electrical power, the refrigerator section will keep food cool for 4-6 hours. Ice could help to keep refrigerator cool.
Throw out any food with a strange colour or odour as soon as possible.
Make sure raw meat, poultry or fish are wrapped very well and placed in the coldest section of your refrigerator.

Your medication:

If you need information on proper storage of your prescription drugs that require refrigeration, such as insulin, call your doctor or local pharmacist.

If you need information on proper storage of your prescription drugs that require refrigeration, such as insulin, call your doctor or local pharmacist.

This information is also available for downloading.

For more information: Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care

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Credit: Kitchn

Whether you live in an area that’s prone to thunderstorms, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, or any other number of natural disasters, if the power goes out, we all have the same questions: How long can we still eat the food in the refrigerator or freezer, and what should we keep or pitch after the power comes back on?

Here’s a guide to help you both monitor and know what to do with food when there’s no electricity.

Your Refrigerator

The Proper Refrigerator Temperature

You should be prepared for a power outage, including setting the refrigerator to the proper temperature and being able to monitor it even when there’s no power. It should be set to 35 to 38°F; it’s worth investing in a refrigerator thermometer so you know exactly what the temperature inside is at all times.

How Long Refrigerated Food Is Safe to Eat

If the power goes out, keep track of how long it’s out. Keep the door to the refrigerator closed as much as possible, and remember that full refrigerators stay colder longer than emptier ones. Food stored in the refrigerator is still safe to eat if the power is out for no more than four hours, according to FoodSafety.gov.

What Happens After Four Hours?

When these four hours are up and the power’s still out, you need to start to monitor the temperature inside the refrigerator. Once the temperature inside reaches 40°F or higher, perishable food is only good for two more hours before you should pitch it. Here’s what to keep and what to throw out:

Foods to Pitch

Soups, Stews, and Casseroles
Meat, Poultry, and Seafood: Cooked, uncooked, or any other foods like casseroles that contain these things
Cheese: Soft, shredded, low-fat
Dairy: Milk, cream, yogurt, sour cream, buttermilk, evaporated milk
Soy and Nut Milks
Eggs:Cooked, uncooked, and any foods containing eggs (like quiches and custards)
Fruit: Cut fruit
Condiments:Fish sauce, oyster sauce, creamy dressings, spaghetti sauce, mayonnaise that has been over 50°F for eight hours or more
Breads: Refrigerator biscuits, rolls, cookie dough
Pasta:Fresh pasta, salads
Sweets:Cheesecake, cream or custard pies, cream-filled pastries
Vegetables: Pre-washed greens, cooked vegetables, vegetable juice, garlic in oil
Tofu

Foods You Can Keep

Cheese: Hard, processed, grated hard cheeses like Parmesan and Romano
Dairy: Butter, margarine
Fruit: Fruit juice, canned fruit, fresh whole fruits, dried fruits
Condiments: Nut butters, jams, jellies, ketchup, olives, pickles, mustard, hot sauce, BBQ sauce, relish, vinegar-based dressings, Worcestershire, soy sauce, hoisin sauce
Breads:Bread, rolls, cakes, muffins, quick breads, tortillas, bagels
Breakfast: Waffles, pancakes
Sweets: Fruit pies
Vegetables: Raw
Herbs

Your Freezer

The Proper Freezer Temperature

Just like with the refrigerator, there’s an ideal temperature for the freezer, too. Keep it at 0°F, and invest in a freezer thermometer so you can monitor its temperature.

How Long Frozen Food Is Safe to Eat

Knowing what to keep in the freezer is a lot easier than the refrigerator. Basically, you just want foods, no matter what kind, to stay frozen!

Full Freezer: A full freezer will keep temperature for about 48 hours.
Half-Full Freezer: The timeline drops down to 24 hoursif your freezer is not full. Try to group the foods close together so they stay colder longer.

After the power comes back on, check foods for ice crystals. If there are still crystals, you can safely refreeze it again.