Are foods in your fridge safe to eat after a power outage? What to know as Idalia arrives

Evan Moore
·3 min read

Power outages are possible in Charlotte due to severe weather from Hurricane Idalia, meaning some of the foods in your refrigerator and freezer may become unsafe to eat.

There is a 50% chance of thunderstorms on Tuesday, with up to three quarters of an inch of rain possible and wind speeds of five miles per hour, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service.

“Rounds of heavy-rain producing showers and thunderstorms are expected today and tonight,” an alert from the NWS says. “The threat of localized flash flooding along streams and nuisance flooding of poor drainage areas will continue. Any thunderstorm will be capable of producing cloud-to-ground lightning and gusty winds.”

Here’s how long food in your fridge and freezer stays edible after a power outage.

How long does food remain edible in your fridge after a power outage?

If your refrigerator doors are closed during a power outage, food will stay safe to eat for up to four hours, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

However, if your fridge is at a temperature of more than 40 degrees for more than two hours during an outage, you should throw away the following foods, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

  • Raw or leftover cooked meat, fish, poultry or seafood

  • Thawing meat or poultry

  • Meat, tuna, chicken, shrimp or egg salad

  • Gravy, stuffing or broth

  • Lunch meats, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, dried beef

  • Pizza with any topping

  • Canned hams labeled “keep refrigerated”

  • Opened canned meats and fish

  • Casseroles, soups and stews

  • Soft, shredded and low-fat cheeses

  • Milk, cream, sour cream, buttermilk, evaporated milk, yogurt, eggnog, soy milk

  • Opened baby formula

  • Eggs

  • Custards, puddings and quiches

  • Cut fresh fruits

  • Sliced or shredded coconuts

  • Fish sauces or oyster sauces

  • Opened creamy-based dressings

  • Opened spaghetti sauce

  • Refrigerator biscuits, rolls and cookie dough

  • Cooked pasta, rice and potatoes

  • Pasta salads with mayonnaise or vinaigrette

  • Fresh pasta

  • Cheesecake

  • Cream-filled pastries

  • Pies with fillings containing eggs or milk

  • Cut fresh vegetables

  • Pre-washed greens

  • Cooked vegetables

  • Cooked tofu

  • Opened vegetable juice

  • Baked potatoes

  • Commercial garlic in oil

  • Potato salad

You should also throw out any food with an unusual color, odor, or texture, or any food that has a temperature of more than 40 degrees, according to the CDC. You should never taste food to determine if it is safe to eat.

How long food lasts in the freezer? Food will also last up to 48 hours in a full freezer, and 24 hours in a half-full freezer during a power outage, according to the CDC. You can refreeze thawed frozen food that still contains ice crystals or is at 40 degrees or below.

How to keep food from going bad during a power outage

Here are some ways you can preserve food in your fridge in the event of a power outage, according to the CDC:

  • Freeze containers of water and gel packs to help keep your food at 40 degrees or below.

  • Buy a cooler and frozen gel packs in case you have to remove your food from the refrigerator to keep it cold.

  • If you think your power will be out for a long time, buy dry ice or block ice to keep your food cold in the refrigerator.