Power outage: fridge and freezer rules

When the power goes out, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. If doors stay shut, CDC says food can remain safe for up to four hours in a refrigerator, 48 hours in a full freezer or 24 hours in a half-full freezer. Those times depend on the stated conditions. They are not a reason to taste food or rely on its smell to decide whether it is safe.

If the outage reaches four hours and you have a cooler and ice or frozen gel packs, move refrigerated perishable foods to the cooler and keep them at 40°F or below. Appliance thermometers help you check refrigerator and freezer temperatures. CDC recommends keeping a refrigerator at 40°F or below and a freezer at 0°F or below.

Afterward, never taste food to test it. Discard perishable refrigerator foods that have been without power for four hours or more, and check CDC’s guidance for freezer items. Food exposed to floodwater needs separate assessment; do not assume the usual outage guidance covers it. Follow the official food-safety page below for the details, and when in doubt, throw it out.