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Refrigerated Food and Power Outages: When to Save
and When to Throw Out
Is food in the refrigerator safe
during a power outage? It should be safe as long as power is
out no more than 4 hours. Keep the door
closed as much as possible. Discard any perishable food
(such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers) that have
been above 40 °F for over 2 hours.
Never taste food to determine
its safety! You can’t rely on appearance or odor to
determine whether food is safe.
Note: Always discard
any items in the refrigerator that have come into contact
with raw meat juices.
You will have to evaluate each item
separately. Use this chart as a guide.
|
Food
Categories |
Specific
Foods |
Held above 40
°F for over 2 hours |
|
MEAT, POULTRY,
SEAFOOD |
Raw or leftover cooked
meat, poultry, fish, or seafood; soy meat
substitutes |
Discard |
|
Thawing meat or poultry |
Discard |
|
Salads: Meat, tuna,
shrimp, chicken, or egg salad |
Discard |
|
Gravy, stuffing, broth |
Discard |
|
Lunchmeats, hot dogs,
bacon, sausage, dried beef |
Discard |
|
Pizza – with any topping |
Discard |
|
Canned hams labeled "Keep
Refrigerated" |
Discard |
|
Canned meats and fish,
opened |
Discard |
|
Casseroles, soups, stews |
Discard |
|
CHEESE |
Soft Cheeses: blue/bleu,
Roquefort, Brie, Camembert, cottage, cream,
Edam, Monterey Jack, ricotta, mozzarella,
Muenster, Neufchatel, queso Blanco, queso
fresco |
Discard |
|
Hard Cheeses: Cheddar,
Colby, Swiss, Parmesan, provolone, Romano |
Safe |
|
Processed Cheeses |
Safe |
|
Shredded Cheeses |
Discard |
|
Low-fat Cheeses |
Discard |
|
Grated Parmesan, Romano,
or combination (in can or jar) |
Safe |
|
DAIRY |
Milk, cream, sour cream,
buttermilk, evaporated milk, yogurt, eggnog,
soy milk |
Discard |
|
Butter, margarine |
Safe |
|
Baby formula, opened |
Discard |
|
EGGS |
Fresh eggs, hard-cooked
in shell, egg dishes, egg products |
Discard |
|
Custards and puddings,
quiche |
Discard |
|
FRUITS |
Fresh fruits, cut |
Discard |
|
Fruit juices, opened |
Safe |
|
Canned fruits, opened |
Safe |
|
Fresh fruits, coconut,
raisins, dried fruits, candied fruits, dates |
Safe |
|
SAUCES, SPREADS,
JAMS |
Opened mayonnaise, tartar
sauce, horseradish |
Discard if above 50 °F
for over 8 hrs. |
|
Peanut butter |
Safe |
|
Jelly, relish, taco
sauce, mustard, catsup, olives, pickles |
Safe |
|
Worcestershire, soy,
barbecue, hoisin sauces |
Safe |
|
Fish sauces, oyster sauce |
Discard |
|
Opened vinegar-based
dressings |
Safe |
|
Opened creamy-based
dressings |
Discard |
|
Spaghetti sauce, opened
jar |
Discard |
|
BREAD, CAKES,
COOKIES, PASTA, GRAINS |
Bread, rolls, cakes,
muffins, quick breads, tortillas |
Safe |
|
Refrigerator biscuits,
rolls, cookie dough |
Discard |
|
Cooked pasta, rice,
potatoes |
Discard |
|
Pasta salads with
mayonnaise or vinaigrette |
Discard |
|
Fresh pasta |
Discard |
|
Cheesecake |
Discard |
|
Breakfast foods –waffles,
pancakes, bagels |
Safe |
|
PIES, PASTRY |
Pastries, cream filled |
Discard |
|
Pies – custard, cheese
filled, or chiffon; quiche |
Discard |
|
Pies, fruit |
Safe |
|
VEGETABLES |
Fresh mushrooms, herbs,
spices |
Safe |
|
Greens, pre-cut,
pre-washed, packaged |
Discard |
|
Vegetables, raw |
Safe |
|
Vegetables, cooked; tofu |
Discard |
|
Vegetable juice, opened |
Discard |
|
Baked potatoes |
Discard |
|
Commercial garlic in oil |
Discard |
|
Potato salad |
Discard |
|
Casseroles, soups, stews |
Discard |
Find out how to keep your food supply safe during and
after an emergency, such as a flood, fire, national disaster
or loss of power by viewing the resource websites below:
Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency (USDA)
Emergency Preparedness (USDA)
Food and Water Safety During Hurricanes, Power Outages,
and floods (FDA)
Food Safety for Consumers Returning Home After a Hurricane
and/or Flooding (FDA)
Hurricanes and Floods-Key Tips for Consumers About Food and
Water Safety
Power Outages-Key Tips for Consumers about Food Safety (FDA)
Keep Food and Water Safe After a Disaster or Emergency (CDC)
Food, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Information for Use
Before and After a Disaster or Emergency (CDC)
Refrigerated Food and Power Outages Chart When to Save and
When to Throw Away
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