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 Whether power to your refrigerator and freezer is interrupted by a power outage or the appliance has just
quit working, the food involved must be handled safely.
The following information is provided by the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. For additional
food safety information, contact the USDA at 1-800-535-4555 or visit
www.fsis.usda.gov
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Keep refrigerator doors closed. Refrigerated food should be safe for about 4 hours. But milk, dairy
products, eggs, meats and all cooked foods spoil quickly. Discard these foods if the temperature in
the refrigerator rises above 40 degrees for two hours or more.
When in doubt, throw the food out.
Keep the freezer doors closed. Food in a full, free-standing freezer will stay at freezing temperatures
for about 48 hours without power, a half-full freezer will stay frozen about 24 hours. If a freezer is not
full, move packages together to insulate them and keep them as cold as possible.
Frozen foods that have partially or completely thawed before power is restored may be refrozen safely if
there are still ice crystals or the food’s temperature is 40 degrees or below.
Don’t taste food that has an odd color or smell. When in doubt, throw it out. Also, if it isn’t
safe for you, it isn’t safe for your pet.
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The following information is reprinted from the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the United States
Department of Agriculture.
General Rule: As long as the power has been out less than 2 hours, all food will be safe.
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Held above 40 Degrees F
for over 2 hours
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Fresh or leftover meat poultry, fish or seafood
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Discard
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Thawing meat or poultry
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Discard
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Meat, tuna, shrimp, chicken or egg salad
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Discard
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Gravy, stuffing
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Discard
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Lunchmeats, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, dried beef
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Discard
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Pizza – with any topping
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Discard
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Canned hams labeled "Keep Refrigerated"
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Discard
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Canned meats, opened
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Discard
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Soft cheeses, blue/bleu, Roquefort, brie, Camembert, Colby, cottage, cream, Edam, Monterey Jack,
ricotta, mozzarella, Munster, Neufchatel
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Discard
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Hard cheeses, Cheddar, Swiss, Parmesan, Romano
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Safe
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Processed cheeses
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Safe
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Shredded cheeses
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Discard
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Low-fat cheeses
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Discard
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Grated Parmesan, Romano, or combined (in can or jar)
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Safe
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Milk, cream, sour cream, buttermilk, evaporated milk, yogurt
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Discard
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Butter, Margarine
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Safe
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Baby formula, opened
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Discard
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Fresh eggs, hard-cooked in shell, egg dishes, egg products
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Discard
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Custards and puddings
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Discard
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Casseroles, Soups, Stews
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Discard
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Fresh fruits, cut
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Discard
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Fruit juices, opened
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Safe
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Canned fruits, opened
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Safe
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Fresh fruits, coconut, raisins, dried fruits, candied fruits, dates
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Safe
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Opened mayonnaise, tartar sauce, horseradish
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Discard if above 50 degrees F for over 8 hours
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Peanut Butter
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Safe
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Jelly, relish, taco, barbecue & soy sauce, mustard, catsup, olives
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Safe
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White wine Worcestershire sauce
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Discard
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Fish sauces (oyster)
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Discard
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Hoisin sauce
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Discard
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Opened vinegar-based dressing
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Safe
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Opened creamy-based dressings
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Discard
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Spaghetti sauce, opened jar
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Discard
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Bread, rolls, cakes, muffins, quick breads
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Safe
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Refrigerator biscuits, rolls, cookies dough
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Discard
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Cooked pasta, spaghetti
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Discard
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Pasta salads with mayonnaise or vinaigrette
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Discard
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Fresh Pasta
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Discard
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Cheesecake
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Discard
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Breakfast foods – waffles, pancakes, bagels
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Safe
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Pastries, cream filled
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Discard
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Pies – custard, cheese-filled, chiffon
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Discard
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Pies, fruit
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Safe
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Fresh mushrooms, herbs, spices
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Safe
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Greens, pre-cut, pre-washed, packages
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Discard
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Vegetables, raw
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Safe
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Vegetables, cooked
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Discard
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Vegetable juice, opened
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Discard
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Baked potatoes
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Discard
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Commercial garlic in oil
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Discard
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Potato Salad
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Discard
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Food
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Still contains ice crystals and feels as cold as if refrigerated
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Thawed, Held above 40 degrees F for over 2 hours
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Beef, veal, lamb, pork and gourmet meats
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Refreeze
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Discard
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Poultry and ground poultry
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Refreeze
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Discard
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Variety meats (liver, kidney, heart, chitterlings)
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Refreeze
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Discard
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Casseroles, stews, soups
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Refreeze
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Discard
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Fish, shellfish, breaded seafood products
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Refreeze. However, there will be some texture and flavor loss.
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Discard
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Milk
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Refreeze. May lose some texture
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Discard
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Eggs (out of shell) and egg products
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Refreeze
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Discard
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Ice cream, frozen yogurt
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Discard
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Discard
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Cheese (soft and semi-soft)
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Refreeze, May lose some texture
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Discard
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Hard cheeses
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Refreeze
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Refreeze
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Shredded cheeses
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Refreeze
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Discard
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Casseroles containing milk, cream, eggs, soft cheeses
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Refreeze
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Discard
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Cheesecake
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Refreeze
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Discard
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Juices
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Refreeze
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Refreeze. Discard if mold, yeasty smell or sliminess develops.
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Home or commercially packaged
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Refreeze. Will change in texture and flavor.
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Refreeze. Discard if mold, yeasty smell or sliminess develops.
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Vegetables
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Juices
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Refreeze
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Discard after held above 40 degrees F for 6 hours.
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Home or commercially packages or blanched
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Refreeze. May suffer texture and flavor loss.
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Discard after held above 40 degrees F for 6 hours.
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Breads, rolls, muffins, cakes (without custard filling)
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Refreeze
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Refreeze
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Cakes, pies, pastries with custard or cheese filling
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Refreeze
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Discard
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Pie crusts, commercial and homemade bread dough
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Refreeze. Some quality loss may occur.
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Refreeze. Quality loss is considerable
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Casseroles – pasta, rice based
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Refreeze
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Discard
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Flour, cornmeal, nuts
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Refreeze
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Refreeze
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Breakfast Items – waffles, pancakes, bagels
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Refreeze
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Refreeze
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Frozen meal, entrée, specialty items (pizza, sausage and biscuit, meat pie, convenience foods)
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Refreeze
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Discard
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