Kitchen Tips Food Handling and Safety Food in Your Refrigerator or Freezer During a Power Outage: What's Safe To Keep, What To Throw Out When in doubt, throw it out… but use these charts as a guide to see what may be safe to keep. By Allrecipes Editors Published on August 31, 2021 One of the first questions that arises after the power is out for an extended length of time is what food you need to throw out and what food is safe to keep. Here you'll find a list of common foods from the fridge and freezer and guidance on what you can keep and what needs to be discarded. Always inspect each item carefully and use your best judgement; if ever in doubt, throw it out! AndreyPopov/Getty Images Food in the Refrigerator: What To Keep and What To Throw Out Food is safe in your refrigerator for up to 4 hours during a power outage, according to the FDA. Avoid opening and closing the refrigerator door, however brief, to ensure the fridge stays as cool as possible. Use the following charts as a general guide to what food from the fridge should be thrown out after a power outage if the food is held above 40 degrees F for more than 2 hours: Condiments, Sauces, and Spreads Food if held above 40°F for 2+ hours Action Jam, jelly, chutney, preserves Keep Pickles, olives, relish Keep Vinegar-based salad dressing (opened) Keep Creamy salad dressing (opened) Discard Ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce, steak sauce, taco sauce Keep Soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, hoisin sauce Keep Fish sauce, oyster sauce Discard Spaghetti sauce, pasta sauce (opened) Discard Commercial garlic in oil Discard Peanut butter Keep Mayonnaise, tartar sauce, horseradish Discard** **If above 50°F for more than 8 hours Dairy, Cheese, and Eggs Food if held above 40°F for 2+ hours Action Eggs (raw or cooked) Discard Milk, buttermilk, evaporated milk Discard Cream, sour cream, half and half Discard Butter, margarine Keep Yogurt, kefir Discard Baby formula (opened) Discard Soft cheeses (blue, Brie, Camembert, Edam, Monterey Jack, ricotta, mozzarella, Muenster, Neufchatel, chevre, queso blanco, queso fresco) Discard Hard and semi-hard cheeses (Cheddar, Colby, Swiss, Parmesan, provolone, Manchego, Gruyere, Pecorino Romano) Keep Cottage cheese Discard Cream cheese Discard Processed cheese (e.g., Velveeta) Keep Shredded cheese Discard Grated hard cheese (e.g., Parmesan) Keep Pudding, custard, eggnog Discard Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Food if held above 40°F for 2+ hours Action Raw meat, poultry, fish, or seafood; soy meat substitutes Discard Leftover cooked meat, poultry, fish, seafood, meat substitutes Discard Lunchmeats, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, salami, cold cuts Discard Canned meat, ham, fish (opened) Discard Broth, stock (opened) Discard Salads (tuna, chicken, shrimp, etc.) Discard Fruits and Vegetables Food if held above 40°F for 2+ hours Action Fresh fruit or vegetables, cut Discard Fresh fruit or vegetables, uncut Keep Vegetables, cooked Discard Greens (pre-washed, packaged) Discard Mushrooms, fresh Keep Tofu, cooked Discard Fruit juice (opened or unopened) Keep Vegetable juice (opened) Discard Canned fruit (opened or unopened) Keep Dried fruit, candied fruits, raisins, figs, prunes, dates Keep Coconut (sliced or shredded) Discard Fruit pies or pastries Keep Prepared Foods Food if held above 40°F for 2+ hours Action Bread, rolls, bagels, flatbreads, tortillas Keep Cakes, muffins, biscuits, pancakes, waffles, quick breads Keep Refrigerator dough (rolls, biscuits, cookie) Discard Pasta, rice, quinoa, other grains (cooked) Discard Fresh pasta (uncooked) Discard Pasta salad, rice salad, grain salad, potato salad Discard Cream-filled baked goods (pastries, cakes, pies, etc.) Discard Cheesecake, mousse cake Discard Sweet or savory egg- or cream-based pies (e.g., custard pie, quiche) Discard Casseroles, soups, stews Discard Baked potatoes Discard Source: FoodSafety.gov Food in the Freezer: What To Keep and What To Throw Out After a power outage, a freezer will hold a safe temperature for up to 48 hours if it is full, and up to 24 hours if it is half full. Always keep the door closed and avoid opening and closing the door during an outage, however brief. Dairy and Desserts Food Has ice crystals & feels cold as if refrigerated Thawed & held above 40°F for 2+ hours Milk Refreeze Discard Eggs and egg products Refreeze Discard Ice cream, sherbet, frozen yogurt Discard Discard Cheesecake Refreeze Discard Cheese, soft Refreeze Discard Shredded cheese Refreeze Discard Cheese, hard Refreeze Refreeze Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Food Has ice crystals & feels cold as if refrigerated Thawed & held above 40°F for 2+ hours Meat, poultry, seafood (all cuts and preparations) Refreeze Discard Stews, soups Refreeze Discard Broth, stock Refreeze Discard Fruits and Vegetables Food Has ice crystals & feels cold as if refrigerated Thawed & held above 40°F for 2+ hours Fruit (commercially or home packaged) Refreeze Refreeze** Fruit juice Refreeze Refreeze** Vegetables (commercially or home packaged; raw or blanched) Refreeze Discard after held above 40°F for 6 hours Vegetable juice Refreeze Discard after held above 40°F for 6 hours **Discard if moldy, smelly, or slimy Other Foods Food Has ice crystals & feels cold as if refrigerated Thawed & held above 40°F for 2+ hours Frozen meals, pizza, meat pies Refreeze Discard Casseroles (pasta or rice based Refreeze Discard Breakfast items (bagels, waffles, pancakes) Refreeze Refreeze Flour, cornmeal, nuts Refreeze Refreeze Pie crusts, bread dough Refreeze Refreeze Breads, rolls, muffins, cakes (without custard or cheese filling) Refreeze Refreeze Breads, cakes, pies, pastries (with custard or cheese filling) Refreeze Discard Source: FoodSafety.gov Food Safety Tips During a Power Outage Don't taste food to judgeNever taste food when trying to determine if it is safe to eat or not. If you're ever unsure or even have a suspicion that something is unsafe to eat, it should be discarded. Check temperaturesUse the refrigerator's own thermometer or an appliance thermometer to check the temperature of the fridge after 4 hours; if it is at or below 40 degrees F, according to the FDA your food should be safe to consume. You can also check the temperature of the food itself by using a food thermometer. Consider ice for long outagesAccording to the FDA: "Buy dry or block ice to keep the refrigerator as cold as possible if the power is going to be out for a prolonged period of time. Fifty pounds of dry ice should keep an 18 cubic foot, fully stocked freezer cold for two days." Related: How to Feed the Family During a Power Outage How to Safely Freeze, Thaw, and Reheat Food Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit You’ll Also Love How Long Can You Actually Leave Coleslaw Out? Are Foods From Dented Cans Safe to Eat? How Long Can Pizza Sit Out? When It Is and Is Not OK to Eat Moldy Food Does Cooking Kill Salmonella? How Long Can You Actually Leave Potato Salad Out? Is Expired Food Safe to Eat? The Truth About Expiration Dates Is It Safe to Microwave Food in Styrofoam Containers? Simple Kitchen and Food Safety Tips for the Home Cook This Is the ONLY Time You Should Wash a Turkey PSA: These 5 Foods Have the Shortest Expiration Dates What Happens If You Eat Mold? Are Charcuterie Boards Safe? Can You Cut The Mold Out of Cheese—Or Should You Throw the Whole Thing Out? Is It Safe to Reuse Plastic Utensils and Cups? An Expert Weighs In Why It Isn't Safe to Cook Frozen Meat in the Slow Cooker Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Privacy PolicyCookies Settings Accept All Cookies