K-State Research and Extension Minneapolis Office
As summer storms and other weather events increase the risk of power outages, Lisa Newman, family and community wellness extension agent, encourages you to keep these crucial tips close for keeping food safe when the lights go out.
Understanding how to handle food during an outage can protect you and your family from foodborne illness.
Keep an Appliance Thermometer: Ensure your refrigerator and freezer have thermometers. This way, you can check if the temperature has remained safe during a power outage. The safe temperature for a refrigerator is 40 degrees or below, and for a freezer, it is 0 degrees or below.
Keep Appliances Closed During Power Outage: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. A refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if unopened, and a full freezer will maintain its temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if half-full.)
Check Each Item After Power Outage: Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers after 4 hours without power. Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40°F (4°C) or below, however, its quality may suffer. Never taste food to determine its safety.
When in Doubt, Throw it Out: If you’re unsure about any food item’s safety, it’s better to dispose of it. The risk of foodborne illness is too high to take chances.
Clean and Disinfect: Once power is restored, clean and disinfect your refrigerator and freezer before restocking them with fresh food. This step will ensure that any bacteria that might have grown during the outage are eliminated.
For more information on food safety during power outages, consult the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website or FoodSafety.gov.