A power outage. It can happen at any time of year for any number of reasons: a strong spring thunderstorm; an increased demand for air conditioning; heavy snow or ice on power lines or tree limbs; or even a wayward driver crashing into a utility pole.
Whatever the cause, a power outage can spoil more than just that TV show you’re watching or the book you’re reading.
A lack of refrigeration can jeopardize the safety of food. But what do you need to pitch and what can you keep once the power comes back on?
Connie Diekman, director of University Nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis, says the most important thing to remember is to keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed.
“Open the doors only minimally to keep the cold air in,” Diekman says. “Unopened, most refrigerators can keep food cold for four to six hours while full freezers can hold for about two days or one day if half full.”
Diekman said the cutoff temperature is 40 degrees Fahrenheit. “You should discard all perishables held above 40 degrees for more than two hours,” she suggests.
These include:
- meat
- poultry
- fish
- milk
- soft cheese
- yogurt
- leftover prepared foods
- cooked pasta
- mayonnaise
- meats in gravies
- opened applesauce
- cut fruit
If the power is out only two to three hours, the following foods will keep in a sealed refrigerator:
- fresh fruits
- vegetables
- leafy greens
- opened fruit and vegetable juice
- baked potatoes
- garlic in oil
If the power is out up to four hours, the following foods will be fine:
- peanut butter
- butter and margarine
- hard cheeses
- nuts
The following foods can last up to six hours or longer without power:
- oil-based dressings
- jam
- jelly
- ketchup
- mustard
- pickles
- pickle relish
- unopened fruit and vegetable juice
- unopened applesauce
If frozen foods still have ice crystals on them when the power returns, you can refreeze them, but the quality may decline. It’s better to cook the food and then freeze it for better quality, Diekman says.
How can you avoid tossing large amounts of food in case of a power outage? Diekman suggests packaging foods in smaller containers and labeling them with dates. Also, put freezer foods in freezer wrap paper or containers that are freezer specific.
Another suggestion is to keep a thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer. The refrigerator should always stay around 40 degrees and the freezer should be at or below 0 degrees.
If you aren’t sure, never taste food to determine its safety, says Diekman. Each item will have to be evaluated separately. “If in doubt, throw it out,” she says.