What to keep and what to toss out your fridge following a power outage
As if losing your power wasn't bad enough, now the groceries you spent an obscene amount on may not be fit for consumption. Storms tore through California over the weekend, and at their peak, 65,000 lost power across the Central Coast.Many are still waiting for their power to return and could remain waiting for at least a day more. The groceries in your refrigerator don't have that time left to wait. Here are some tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to know what to toss and what to keep:Do NOT taste food to know if it is safe. "When in doubt, throw it out."After four hours without power, throw out perishable foods in the fridge, such as meat, fish, cut fries and vegetables, eggs, milk and leftovers. After 24 hours, throw out perishable foods in the freezer.Throw out foods with strange odors, colors, or textures.Throw out food above 40 degrees.Put food still salvageable in the freezer with an added cold source.You can safely refreeze or cook thawed frozen food that still contains ice crystals or is below 40 degrees.
SALINAS, Calif. —
As if losing your power wasn't bad enough, now the groceries you spent an obscene amount on may not be fit for consumption. Storms tore through California over the weekend, and at their peak, 65,000 lost power across the Central Coast.
Many are still waiting for their power to return and could remain waiting for at least a day more. The groceries in your refrigerator don't have that time left to wait.
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Here are some tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to know what to toss and what to keep:
- Do NOT taste food to know if it is safe. "When in doubt, throw it out."
- After four hours without power, throw out perishable foods in the fridge, such as meat, fish, cut fries and vegetables, eggs, milk and leftovers.
- After 24 hours, throw out perishable foods in the freezer.
- Throw out foods with strange odors, colors, or textures.
- Throw out food above 40 degrees.
- Put food still salvageable in the freezer with an added cold source.
- You can safely refreeze or cook thawed frozen food that still contains ice crystals or is below 40 degrees.
FAQs
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. After a power outage never taste food to determine its safety.
What to throw out of a refrigerator after a power outage? ›
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 to throw out when fridge breaks? ›
These include:
- Hard cheeses.
- Butter or margarine.
- Opened fruit juices or canned fruits.
- Many spreads including peanut butter, jelly, relish, ketchup and mustard.
- Many sauces including barbecue, Worcestershire and opened vinegar-based salad dressings.
- Bread.
- Uncut raw vegetables and fruits.
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 long will milk last in the refrigerator without power? ›
Power Outages: During and After
The refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened.
How long will 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.
How do I protect my refrigerator from a power outage? ›
4 Ways to Protect Your Appliances During an Outage
- Unplug Appliances. ...
- Use Surge Protectors. ...
- Keep the Fridge & Freezer Closed. ...
- Turn Out the Lights.
Coolers are the most common solution when figuring what to do when your refrigerator goes out. Maximize your cooler space by placing a layer of frozen foods, then putting a layer of perishable foods from the fridge and another layer of frozen foods.
How to remove freon from a fridge? ›
According to the EPA, Freon removal from refrigerators, air conditioners and other appliances should only be handled by a Section 608 certified professional. Don't try to do it yourself.
What can spoil fridge compressor? ›
A low load on the refrigerator's evaporator and a heavier load in the refrigerating chamber can both lead to issues with the compressor. Running an empty fridge for a longer period of time and having a lot of ice in the freezer chamber are oftentimes to blame.
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.
How long does mayo last in the fridge without power? ›
If opened mayonnaise, tartar sauce, horseradish, commercial garlic in oil or other spreads (or any salads made with those items) have been held at 50 degrees or above for more than eight hours, discard them.
What foods can be refrozen after power outage? ›
Discard Times for Frozen Foods After Power Outage
| Meats, Poultry, Seafood | Still Contains Ice Crystals and Feels as Cold as if Refrigerated |
|---|
| Beef, veal, lamb, pork, ground meats | Refreeze |
| Poultry, ground poultry | Refreeze |
| Variety meats (liver, kidney, heart, chitterlings) | Refreeze |
| Casseroles, stews, soups | Refreeze |
1 more rowFreshly expressed milk can last up to four days in the fridge, but it can't last five hours when the power is out. FoodSafety.Gov explains that a full freezer can safely store food for up to 48 hours after a power outage, and that's the key to keeping your expressed breast milk safe.
How long does it take for milk to spoil without refrigeration? ›
How Long Can You Leave Milk Out of the Fridge? You can leave milk out of the fridge at room temperature for up to two hours, according to the USDA. “Leaving milk out too long can potentially lead to foodborne illness,” Amidor explains. “Pathogenic microorganisms like to grow in temperatures between 40 to 140 degrees.
What food to keep when power goes out? ›
FEMA recommends stocking up on the following items in case of an emergency: Ready-to-eat canned fruits, vegetables and meats, along with a can opener. Protein or fruit bars. Dry cereal or granola.
How long food is good in fridge after 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.
How long can mayo last in the fridge without power? ›
If opened mayonnaise, tartar sauce, horseradish, commercial garlic in oil or other spreads (or any salads made with those items) have been held at 50 degrees or above for more than eight hours, discard them.
Do I have to throw out butter after a power outage? ›
Milk products: You can keep butter, margarine, hard cheeses like cheddar, Swiss and Parmesan. You can also keep processed cheeses and grated Parmesan cheeses such as Parmesan and Romano. Fruits and Juices: Juices, and even opened canned fruit juices, do not have to be thrown away.
Can a power outage mess up a refrigerator? ›
The chances is very low that a good refrigerator will be damage. If there is any surge in current, the main MCB should have taken care of it and cut off the circuit. The fuse on the refrigerator plug will also provide a secondary protection for any inrush current.
