Survival guides · Water & Food

Food Safety in an Outage

WHEN TO USE THISThe power's out. Know what's still safe — bad food makes you sick with no warning taste.

1. Keep the doors shut

   • Fridge: safe about 4 hours closed.
   • Full freezer: about 48 hours. Half full: 24.
   • Plan what you need; open once, quickly.

2. The 40° rule

   • Perishables — meat, dairy, eggs, leftovers, cut fruit — above 40°F for over 2 hours: throw them out.
   • Use a food thermometer if you have one.
   • Never taste to check. Food-poisoning germs don't change taste or smell.

3. Eat in order

   • 1. Fridge food. 2. Freezer food as it thaws. 3. Cans and dry food.
   • Dry ice: 50 lb keeps a full-size freezer cold about 2 days.

4. When in doubt, throw it out

   • Power back: freezer food with ice crystals, or at 40°F or below, can be refrozen.
   • Thawed and above 40°F for more than 2 hours? Out.
   • Fridge perishables after 4 hours without power: out.

Sources: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service · FEMA / Ready.gov

General information to help in an emergency — not a substitute for training or professional care.