How Long Can a Fridge Last Without Power
How Long Does Nutrient Terminal in the Fridge Without Power? Here'southward What an Expert Says
What to toss—and what to continue—next time there's an electrical outage.
It's the season for stormy weather, which puts the electricity powering your fridge at run a risk. A brief power outage lasting minutes won't touch on the quality of the food in your fridge or freezer. But what about electrical outages lasting hours or days—how long does the fridge stay cold, and at what point does bacteria growth become a threat, forcing you lot to toss out your perishable food? Hither'south everything yous need to know.
How long volition my refrigerator stay cold?
Without power, a fridge volition likely remain at a safe temperature for upwards to four hours if the door is kept airtight, Tamika Sims, PhD, director of food technology communications at the International Nutrient Information Council, tells Health. Nutrient in your freezer stays cold for even longer—well-nigh a day if the freezer is one-half full, and about 48 hours if it'south full (the more food there is inside, the more cold is retained).
But don't be tempted to check on your foods every few minutes, as this will accelerate the temperature increase—and therefore the spoiling. "It'southward crucial to continue your refrigerator and freezer doors closed during power outages to maintain the common cold temperature," Sims says.
How volition I know when nutrient in my fridge starts to go bad?
During a ability outage, y'all tin can use apparatus thermometers in your refrigerator and freezer to assistance decide if your food is safe. "Normally, refrigerator temperature should exist 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, and the freezer should be 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower," Sims says. If there'due south not a thermometer within the appliance to gauge temperature, you can use a food thermometer on each item to work out if it's prophylactic to swallow.
While some foods, like dairy and meats, might beginning to look or scent bad, yous tin can't ever rely on the advent or smell of a food item to determine its safety. "For items in the freezer to exist safe to refreeze or set for consumption, they should have an internal temperature below 40 degrees Fahrenheit," Sims says.
"If meats, eggs, or leftovers have been above xl degrees Fahrenheit for more ii hours, it's time to throw them out," Sims advises. This quick guide of various nutrient groups from foodsafety.gov, a website from the FDA, CDC, and other federal health agencies, tin can requite y'all an idea of what to keep and what you should toss. Simply checking the actual temperature of the food in your refrigerator will ultimately tell you what is prophylactic to eat.
Sims advises ever erring on the side of caution. And so if you're unsure about the safety of food items that were in your refrigerator or freezer during a power outage—or anytime, for that affair—information technology'due south improve to throw them away and rely on shelf-stable pantry items for your meals.
And to avoid food waste matter, it's wise to swallow the near perishable items in your refrigerator first, such as leftovers, meat, poultry, and foods containing milk, soft cheese, cream, or sour cream, assuming their temperatures betoken they are safe.
How to go on food from spoiling if the outage lasts more than than a day
If it's likely that ability will be out for several days, purchase dry ice or block water ice for your refrigerator or freezer to aid keep perishables at a rubber temperature.
But don't put your food outside to keep it cold, even during winter. The New York State Department of Health warns that temperatures cold enough for refrigerated food are all the same likewise warm for frozen nutrient. It may be very cold exterior, but the lord's day could still heat the nutrient to a temperature that would cultivate bacteria.
How to keep food safe before the power goes out
Long before the storm hits, you tin take steps to help maximize the lifespan of your refrigerated and frozen foods. The New York State Section of Wellness advises grouping frozen foods in a protective "igloo," keeping meats together on one side of the freezer or on a tray so that if they start to thaw, their juices (which could harbor bacteria) won't mix with other foods. Call up, foods with a loftier h2o content, such equally meat or fruit, volition stay frozen longer than food with a low water content, such equally bread.
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Source: https://www.health.com/food/how-long-food-lasts-in-fridge-no-power
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