Essential Tips to Keep Your Fridge Food Fresh During a Power Outage: A Complete Guide

As the weather warms up, storms become more common. With storms often comes lightning, which can cause power outages. When the electricity goes out, one of your main worries might be the food in your fridge. A sudden power loss can threaten your groceries, but with a little preparation, you can keep most of your perishables safe and fresh until the power returns.

Losing a fridge full of food can be frustrating and costly. It’s especially challenging if you’re low on food and can’t buy more. Though you can’t save everything, you can take steps to ensure that much of your food stays fresh during a power outage.

Prep Ahead for Power Outages

Before a power outage hits, being prepared is crucial. Here are some items recommended by the CDC to have on hand:

• Appliance thermometers for your fridge and freezer. They help you monitor temperatures. The fridge should stay below 40°F, and the freezer should be at 0°F or lower.
• A cooler and frozen gel packs. These can help keep food cold if you need to take it out of the fridge.
• Dry ice or block ice. If you anticipate a long outage, these can preserve the cold in your fridge.

What to Do When the Power Goes Out

When the power goes out, the first thing to do is keep your fridge and freezer doors closed. Don’t open them unless absolutely necessary. If kept shut, a refrigerator can keep food safe for about four hours. A full freezer will maintain its temperature for 48 hours, while a half-full freezer lasts about 24 hours.

If the power stays out for more than four hours, or if the fridge temperature rises above 40°F, start moving food out. Perishable items left in the fridge too long will need to be discarded. However, if you have dry ice, you can place it in the fridge and freezer to keep food cold. You will need about three pounds of dry ice per cubic foot of freezer space, which can help maintain cold temperatures for up to two days. Just remember to handle dry ice safely.

Organizing Your Food

When the power is out, sort your food into two groups: one that needs to stay cold and another that can be left at room temperature.

Foods That Don’t Need to be Refrigerated

• Butter (for 1-2 days)
• Peanut butter
• Cooking oils (except nut oils)
• Herbs
• Potatoes
• Most fruits and vegetables
• Bread
• Coffee
• Honey
• Condiments like ketchup and mustard

Foods That Need to be Kept Cold

• Dairy products (like cheese, milk, and yogurt)
• Eggs
• Meats, fish, and poultry
• Cut fruits and vegetables
• Leftovers

Keeping Food Cold Without Power

To preserve your perishable items, grab your cooler! Place a layer of frozen food at the bottom, then add the fridge items, and top with more frozen foods. If you don’t have enough ice packs, consider getting some if it’s safe to venture out. Distribute the ice evenly around the food to maintain a consistent temperature, and move your fridge thermometer into the cooler to check on the temperature.

If you don’t have a cooler, you can also use your freezer. It insulates well and can keep food cold as long as the door remains closed. Just remember to place ice in bowls to avoid a watery mess.

Trust the safety advice — do not taste food to check if it’s still good. When in doubt, throw it out. Dispose of any food that has an odd smell, color, or texture. For frozen goods, it’s generally safe to refreeze or cook anything that has stayed below 40°F or still has ice crystals.

These simple steps can help you safeguard your groceries when the power goes out, making the experience a little easier.

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