For How Long Will The Food In Your Refrigerator Stay Safe To Eat When There Is No Power

After a heavy storm, you wake up in the morning to no power. Now, what about the food in the refrigerator, how long does it take for them to perish? And what about your frozen food? And the fish and meat in the freeze?  For how long will the perishables in your refrigerator stay safe to eat? Just four hours. According to the U.S Food Administration, this four hours is only applicable if the refrigerator remains closed.

For your freezer, it is 48 hours provided you keep the doors closed. You should remember to keep your refrigerator at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit to keep perishables sufficiently cold and your freezer should be at or below 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you have fish or meat, discard them if they have been kept in the fridge without power for more than two hours. Also, cooked leftovers, soft cheeses, deli cold cuts/salads should be discarded too after two hours. You can check out the detailed list of foods that can be discarded or kept over here.