Food safety when the power goes out

A refrigerator keeps food safely cold for about 4 hours if it stays closed. A full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours, or 24 if it's half full and the door stays shut. After that, sort each item. Never taste food to decide whether it's safe.

Before an outage

• Keep an appliance thermometer in the refrigerator and the freezerThe refrigerator should be at 40°F or below and the freezer at 0°F or below.
• Freeze containers of water to keep food cold after the power goes out
• Keep the freezer food grouped together, so it stays cold longer
• Have coolers on hand for an outage that lasts more than 4 hours

While the power is out

• Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as you can
• Note the time the power went out, so you know when the 4 hours are up
• For a long outage, block ice or dry ice keeps the refrigerator and freezer colderFifty pounds of dry ice holds a full 18-cubic-foot freezer for about 2 days.

The refrigerator, after 4 hours

These are for food held above 40°F for more than 2 hours.

• Throw out raw or cooked meat, poultry, fish and seafood, and lunchmeats, hot dogs, bacon and sausage
• Throw out milk, cream, sour cream, yogurt and soy milk, and opened baby formula
• Throw out eggs and egg dishes, custards, puddings and quiche
• Throw out soft and shredded cheesesHard cheeses such as cheddar, Swiss and Parmesan can stay.
• Throw out leftovers: casseroles, soups, stews, cooked pasta, rice and potatoes
• Throw out cut fruit, cooked vegetables and pre-washed packaged greensUncut fresh fruit and raw vegetables can stay.
• Keep butter, margarine, peanut butter, jelly, mustard, ketchup, pickles and vinegar-based dressings
• Keep bread, rolls, muffins and tortillas, and fruit pies
• Throw out opened mayonnaise, tartar sauce and horseradish if they've been above 50°F for more than 8 hours

The freezer

• Food that still has ice crystals, or is at 40°F or below, can be refrozen
• If the power was out for several days, check the freezer's temperature with the thermometerWith no thermometer, check each package for ice crystals.

When in doubt

Throw out anything you aren't sure of. Running a portable generator without the carbon monoxide covers keeping the power on safely.