Food Safety During a Power Outage: Fridge, Freezer, Ice, and When to Throw Food Out
How to handle refrigerator and freezer food during a weather power outage, including door rules, ice, thermometers, refreezing, and spoilage decisions.
First hours
Keep doors closed to hold cold air. Group freezer items together if safe before the storm, and use appliance thermometers for better decisions.
A full freezer stays cold longer than a nearly empty one.
After power returns
Check temperatures and food condition. Some items may be safe if they stayed cold enough, while others should be discarded.
When in doubt, throw it out, especially for meat, dairy, seafood, cooked leftovers, and opened perishables.
Planning ahead
Freeze water bottles, keep coolers available, and know where to buy ice if roads are safe.
Do not use outdoor cold as a food safety plan unless temperatures are reliably cold and food is protected from animals and contamination.