Eat Safe Food after a Power Outage

Key points:

• Keep appliance thermometers in the fridge and freezer. The fridge should be at 40°F or below, the freezer at 0°F or below.
• Keep the doors closed. Food stays cold for 4 hours in a fridge, 48 hours in a full freezer and 24 hours in a half-full one.
• After 4 hours without power, move perishable food from the fridge to a cooler with ice to keep it at 40°F or below.
• Never taste food to find out if it is safe. When in doubt, throw it out.
• Throw out fridge food such as meat, fish, cut fruit and vegetables, eggs, milk and leftovers after 4 hours without power or a cold source, and any food above 40°F or with an unusual smell, color or texture.
• Thawed frozen food that still has ice crystals or is at 40°F or below can be safely refrozen or cooked.

Who it's for: anyone whose power has gone out with food in the fridge or freezer.

How to read it: One page in three panels. Before covers appliance thermometers and freezing water ahead of time. During covers keeping the doors shut and how many hours the fridge and freezer keep food cold. After covers what to throw out and what can be refrozen. A link at the top of the sheet leads to CDC's text version of the same advice.

Read alongside: Keep Food Safe After a Disaster or Emergency · Build a Kit