Live Healthy Live Well

Let’s examine food safety during a power outage.

Boy oh Boy, has spring packed a punch! Here in Northeastern Ohio we have experienced many power outages already. Some communities have spent only a few minutes in the dark while others find themselves looking for glimmers of light after two or more days.

Picture this, the power is restored, hallelujah! You can finally make that fresh pot of coffee. You reach into the fridge with hopes of topping it off with a hint of cream or milk. Suddenly you wonder, “how long is too long? how room temperature is too room temperature?”

When it comes to food safety we have many kinds of opinions. Some of these opinions are based on who raised us or how we were raised. Either way, sometimes we find ourselves with lots of different advice about what to do with food. So, let’s talk about some important food safety measures to keep in mind when things do go dark and how to know, “how long is too long”.

Have a plan.

If you are expecting severe weather it never hurts to be prepared. Today, many refrigerators and freezers have digital internal thermometers. This is so convenient when we have power. The FDA suggests having thermometers on hand to place in your appliance when the possibility of a power outage is present. Refrigerators should be maintained at 40 ° F or less and freezers at 0° F or less.

Keep your appliance closed once the power goes out. If kept closed, refrigerators can stay cold for up to 4 hours.

Keep freezer packs or frozen containers of water in your appliance. This can help maintain cool temperatures. A full freezer will keep temperature for up to 48 hours; half full maintains for about 24 hours.

When the power is restored, determine what to safely keep.

The FDA shares a few bits of advice for us:

1. If the thermometer placed in the freezer reads a temperature of 40° F or less or the food contains ice crystals, then you can safely refreeze the items.
2. If there was no thermometer, check packages visually to try to determine if they are safe for consumption or if you can refreeze them. Use your senses to observe the odor and appearance of the product. Does the food smell foul or sour? Does it appear slimy, bubbly, or off color? Smell and appearance are not always good indicators of food spoilage, so remember what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, “when in doubt, throw it out”.
3. If the power has been out for 4 hours or less, as long as the refrigerator has stayed shut, food should be safe. Toss any perishable food items that have not been properly stored while the power was out. Perishable food includes meat, poultry, eggs, seafood, milk, or leftovers.
4. Foods that have been above 40° F for 4 hours or more need to be thrown out. Perishable foods with temperatures that are 45°F or below (measured with a food thermometer) should be safe, but should be cooked and consumed as soon as possible.

After a power outage never taste food to test for safety. Perishable food items that have not been kept at adequate temperatures may cause food borne illnesses.

Click the link below to learn more about what to toss and what to keep:

https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/food-safety-during-power-outage

Author: Holly Bandy, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Stark County

Reviewer: Jenny Lobb, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Franklin County

Sources:

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2023). Food and Water Safety During Power Outages and Floods. https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/food-and-water-safety-during-power-outages-and-floods

FoodSafety.gov (2021). Refrigerated Food and Power Outages: When to Save It and When to Throw It Out. https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/food-safety-during-power-outage

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2022). Keep Food Safe After a Disaster or Emergency. https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/keep-food-safe-after-emergency.html