Power Outages & Food Safety

During a power outage, it is especially important to remember key food safety tips. Taking simple steps like monitoring the temperature and condition of food can make the difference between safe food and dangerous food. 

Here are a few tips to help minimize the potential for food-borne illness due to power outages:

• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain cold temperatures. Each time the door is opened, temperatures rise significantly. 
  
• Refrigerators will keep food safely cold for about four hours if unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full and the door remains closed). 
  
• Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40 degrees or below. 
  
• Never taste food to determine its safety. 
  
• Use dry or block ice to keep refrigerators and freezers as cold as possible during prolonged power outages. Fifty pounds of dry ice should maintain a full, 18-cubic-foot  freezer for two days. 
  
• If the power has been out for several days, check the temperature of the freezer with an appliance thermometer or food thermometer. If the food still contains ice crystals or is at 40 degrees or below, the food is safe. 
  
• If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, check each package of food to determine its safety. If the food still contains ice crystals, the food is safe. 
  
• Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, leftovers and deli items after four hours without power. 
  

Above all else during this winter weather emergency, we encourage you to be informed, prepared and involved. For more detailed information about emergency preparedness, visit www.readypa.org​.

Updated 4/8/20