How to Keep Food Safe When the Power Goes Out

Power cuts can put food safety at risk if fridges and freezers stop working. Without electricity, some items spoil within hours—while others remain safe for much longer. Knowing which foods to keep or throw away helps prevent food poisoning after an outage. A fridge keeps food safe for roughly four hours when the power goes off. After that, items like raw or cooked meat, poultry, seafood, and dairy products should be discarded. Processed meats, eggs, and milk also become unsafe once the temperature climbs above 40°F (4°C) for over two hours.

Hard cheeses, butter, and uncut fruits and vegetables usually stay safe for longer. These can often be kept even after the outage ends. Opening the fridge door during a blackout speeds up spoilage, so it’s best to keep it closed as much as possible. A fully stocked freezer holds food safely for up to 48 hours without power. Frozen meat or meals can be refrozen if they still feel cold to the touch. But if they feel lukewarm, they should be thrown out. When unsure about how long the power was off, checking the temperature of the food helps decide whether to keep or discard it.

Food left too long in a warm fridge or freezer can cause illness. Throwing away questionable items reduces the risk of food poisoning. Keeping the fridge door shut and checking temperatures ensures safer choices after a power cut.