How to keep your food safe during power outages

A brief power outage can be concerning, especially if we don't know how long our refrigerator can last without electricity. Fortunately, a refrigerator lasts longer without power than it might seem. However, in cases of prolonged power outages, it's good to know how to proceed.

A short power outage, up to four hours, should not cause significant damage, and the food in the refrigerator and freezer will still be safe to consume. During a power outage, a closed refrigerator will maintain a temperature of 40°F for about 4-6 hours. Therefore, it's important not to open the doors of the appliance without reason, as warm air from outside can cause the temperature inside to rise. However, it's also good to be aware that after about 4 hours, there's a risk that delicate products, such as dairy, meat, and fish, might start spoiling.

To ensure food safety, the temperature inside the refrigerator mustn't exceed 45°F. Food stored at such a temperature can be dangerous after just two hours. This particularly applies to products such as:

• raw meat, poultry, fish, and shellfish,
• cooked meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, and soy-based meat substitutes, or any dishes containing them,
• tuna, shrimp, chicken, ham, or egg salads,
• gravy, stuffing, or broth,
• deli meats,
• hot dogs, bacon, sausage, jerky,
• pizza,
• opened canned meats,
• casseroles, soups, and stews,
• grated and low-fat cheeses,
• soft cheeses, e.g., cottage cheese, cream cheese,
• milk, sweet cream, sour cream, buttermilk, evaporated milk after opening, yogurt, soy milk,
• baby formula after opening,
• butter (very low risk),
• eggs in shells, liquid egg products, egg dishes, hard-boiled eggs, cakes with egg-based frosting,
• sweet milk and egg-based sauces and puddings,
• sliced fruits,
• unpasteurized fruit juices,
• opened canned fruits,
• fish sauces, oyster sauce,
• cream-based salad dressings,
• cooked pasta, rice, or potatoes,
• pasta salads,
• fresh, uncooked pasta,
• cheesecake or any baked goods with cream or milk and egg-based sauce fillings,
• pre-sliced, pre-washed, packaged lettuce,
• cooked vegetables,
• tofu.

On the other hand, food stored in a completely filled freezer will be safe for no more than 48 hours, and in a half-filled freezer, it will remain safe to eat for no more than 24 hours. If the power is out for an extended period, it's worthwhile to move food to a cooler place, such as a basement. Some products can be processed by cooking on a gas stove, which works regardless of the power outage. For example, meat can be sautéed, and vegetables can be made into soup, which limits bacterial growth.