Refrigerated food during a power outage

Before an outage

• Put appliance thermometers in the refrigerator and freezer so you can check temperatures.
• Freeze containers of water or gel packs when an outage is possible.
• Group frozen food together and know where coolers and clean ice can be obtained.
• Keep a supply of shelf-stable food that can be prepared safely without normal utilities.

While power is out

• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
• Record when the outage began if you can do so accurately.
• Check official CDC guidance before moving food, adding ice, or deciding that food is safe.
• Keep raw animal products separated from ready-to-eat food if melting or leakage occurs.

Decide with temperature and official guidance

CDC publishes the relevant refrigerator and freezer time-and-temperature rules and a food-by-food chart. Conditions vary, so consult that current chart rather than relying on appearance, odor, or a generic estimate.

• Check the appliance thermometer and the current CDC chart.
• Discard perishable food that has exceeded the official safe limits.
• Never taste food to determine whether it is safe.
• Discard food touched by floodwater or otherwise contaminated, following public-health instructions.

Important: This guide cannot determine whether a particular item is safe. If its history is uncertain, use the cautious official rule: when in doubt, throw it out.

Clean up and restock

• Discard leaking or questionable food without allowing it to contaminate other surfaces.
• Clean and sanitize appliance surfaces using current CDC instructions.
• Restore food only after the appliance can maintain safe temperatures.

Related PREPHAUS resources