By the time you read this, if you’ve been without power on Thursday morning and weren’t able to connect your refrigerator or freezer to a generator, the perishable food inside likely has spoiled.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that a refrigerator will keep food at a safe temperature for only about four hours without power. A full freezer will hold the temperature for about 48 hours after the power goes off (24 hours if it is half full).
The No. 1 safety tip from the USDA for deciding what to keep and what to toss is never taste food to determine its safety - when in doubt, throw it out.
Here are some more tips from the USDA:
REFRIGERATED FOODS
ADVERTISEMENT
Discard the following if your refrigerator has been without power for more than 4 hours:
- raw, cooked, or leftover meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and egg substitutes
- casseroles, soups, stews, and pizza
- mixed salads (i.e., chicken, tuna, macaroni, potato)
- gravy and stuffing;
- milk, cream, yogurt, sour cream, and soft cheeses
- cut fruits and vegetables (fresh);
- cooked vegetables
- fruit and vegetable juices (opened)
- creamy-based salad dressing
- batters and doughs (i.e., pancake batter, cookie dough)
- custard, chiffon, or cheese pies
- cream-filled pastries
- garlic stored in oil.
- Discard opened mayonnaise, tartar sauce and horseradish if they were held above 50°F for more than 8 hours.
- Discard any foods that may have become contaminated by juices dripping from raw meat, poultry, or fish.
- In general, if any food has an unusual odor, color, or texture, throw it out.
The following foods may be safe after a power outage:
- High-acid foods such as mustard, ketchup, relishes, pickles, non-creamy salad dressings, jams and jellies generally will be safe to eat - though they may spoil sooner.
- whole fruits and vegetables (fresh)
- fruit and vegetable juices (unopened)
- baked goods such as fruit pies, bread, rolls, muffins, and cakes (except those with cream cheese frosting or cream fillings)
- hard and processed cheeses;
- butter and margarine
- fresh herbs and spices
FROZEN FOODS
The following foods may be safe after a power outage:
- Frozen foods that have partly thawed, but still contain ice crystals.
- Foods that have remained at refrigerator temperatures - 40°F or below. They may be safely refrozen, but their quality may suffer.
- Foods that were frozen - but don't require freezing, such as bread and baked goods.
REMOVING ODORS FROM REFRIGERATORS AND FREEZERS
- Dispose of any spoiled or questionable food.
- Remove shelves, crispers, and ice trays. Wash them thoroughly with hot water and detergent. Rinse with a sanitizing solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water.
- Wash the interior of the refrigerator and freezer, including the door and gaskets, with hot water and baking soda. Rinse with a sanitizing solution.
- Leave the door open for about 15 minutes.
- Repeat if needed.
If odor remains, try any or all of the following:
- Wipe the inside of the unit with equal parts vinegar and water to destroy mildew.
- Leave the door open and allow to air out for several days.
- Stuff the refrigerator and freezer with rolled newspapers. Keep the door closed for several days. Remove the newspaper and clean with vinegar and water.
- Sprinkle fresh coffee grounds or baking soda loosely in a large, shallow container in the bottom of the unit.
- Use a commercial product available at hardware and houseware stores. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Find more information at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov
.
