Is it me or does it feel like every time you turn on the evening news you hear a story of some extreme weather event affecting some part of the country? Heat waves, extreme high and low temperatures, intense storms, floods and heavy snow to name a few. With each of these major weather events you also hear of the sweeping electrical outages that impact tens of thousands or even millions of homes.
Vulnerability of U.S. Electric Power Grid to Power Outages
Did you know that power outages are increasing? Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed that on average, U.S. electricity customers experienced eight hours of electrical power interruptions in 2020. This represented the highest average since the EIA began collecting data in 2013. In 2020, the U.S. saw 14 hurricanes and 11 major storms, including wind and ice storms.
Residents in Alabama, Iowa, Connecticut, Oklahoma, and Louisiana experienced the most time with interrupted power. But no state is safe from a storm or intense weather event.
Take this example of extreme weather that brought an Arctic air mass across the central United States in February 2021. Millions of American homes were left without power in dozens of states stretching from Minnesota to Texas. The extreme cold brought a spike in demand for electricity as homes and local businesses turned up their thermostats to stay warm. At the same time, the frigid weather made it challenging for the utilities to produce electricity and keep up with the demand.
Now, how does all the information about power outages relate to food safety?
Safe Perishable Food Storage Temperatures
Perishable food must be kept at proper temperatures in your refrigerator and freezer in order to prevent the growth of bacteria. According to healthline.com, the recommended storage temperatures for perishable foods such meat, poultry, eggs, leftovers, fish, fruits and vegetables to name a few are 40 degrees or below in the refrigerator and 0 degrees or below in the freezer.
Know the Temperature of Your Refrigerator
Food safety experts including those at the USDA recommend always keeping an appliance thermometer in your refrigerator and freezer. Doing so will ensure that your appliance is working properly to keep your food at a safe temperature. Appliance thermometers can be found in all shapes and sizes and are made in both analog and digital versions.
To maintain optimal freshness and prevent the growth of harmful bacteria the refrigerator should be maintained at 40° F (4.4 °C) or below and the freezer at 0° F (-17.8 °C) or lower).
During a power outage the appliance thermometer will continue to measure the temperature inside. You should keep the door closed as much as possible to retain internal temperature. Some newer models have internal sensors to monitor the temperature for you. Some even alert you if there has been a power outage, in case you were away. Check the display on your appliance and look through your appliance’s manual for more details on temperature monitoring.
Planning: A Step-by-Step Guide If You Are Expecting A Power Outage
If you live in an area that is prone to power outages or just want to be prepared in case you experience one, here are some steps you can take.
Purchase an appliance thermometer to monitor the internal temperature of the refrigerator and freezer. (The refrigerator temperature should remain at 40° F (4.4 °C) or below; the freezer, 0° F (-17.8 °C) or lower).
Place frozen foods closely together in the freezer.
Fill the freezer to capacity: Leave a small amount of space on the top and sides so that the thermostat sensor can work properly. Fill empty spaces with reusable ice-packs, milk jugs or ziploc bags filled with water. You can even fill those cylindrical or rectangular plastic take out containers with water to create bricks of ice which are easily stackable. Tip: a freezer full of meat stays colder longer than a freezer full of baked goods such as breads, pies and cakes.
Freeze some perishable foods that you won’t need right away such as milk and leftover foods. Doing so will maintain their freshness and prolong the useful life of the foods.
Purchase a large cooler chest and have extra freezer ice and gel packs on hand. If power is out for more than 4 hours refrigerated food will need to be relocated to a cooler chest to maintain safe storage temperatures.
Make a list of locations that sell dry ice and bagged ice in your community.
LIFE PRO TIP- PRE-VACATION PLANNING
Although not endorsed by the FDA or the CDC as a food safety tip, we thought the “one cup tip” which went viral back in 2016 can provide you with some reassurance that your power has been out for an extended period of time and your food may not be safe to consume. Ultimately it is still recommended to rely on the food safety guidelines provided by the FDA, CDC and USDA to determine whether food is safe to consume.
Before leaving for vacation simply freeze a plastic cup or mug of water and place a quarter on top of it. Leave it in the freezer and check on it when you return. If the quarter has sunk, that will mean that the ice thawed and then re-froze, which is a big red flag about the rest of your food. If you do not know how long the power was out, your food may not be safe to eat.
What to Do During a Power Outage
During a power outage it is recommended to keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed at all times. This will help keep the temperature inside your appliance cold enough to keep your food safe as long as possible until power returns.
How long Can a Fridge Go Without Power?
Perishable food in a refrigerator will remain safe for up to 4 hours if the door remains unopened.
How long Can a Freezer Go Without Power?
Frozen food can remain safe for up to 48 hours if the freezer is densely packed leaving less room for warm pockets of air. This time is cut in half to 24 hours for a freezer that is half full.
What you freeze matters. As mentioned above in the step-by-step guide to planning, a freezer full of meat will stay cold longer than a freezer full of baked goods so keep this in mind when loading your freezer before a storm.
What to Do Once Power Has Been Restored
If you’re home when the power returns and you’re not sure whether or not the food has been maintained at a safe temperature you can check it with a food thermometer.
If the thermometer in the freezer reads at or below 40° F (4.4 °C) then the food is still safe and can be refrozen.
A good rule of thumb is that if your power is out for less than 4 hours refrigerated food should be safe to keep. However, make sure to keep an eye on it as perishable food should not be consumed if it has been between 40° F (4.4 °C) and 140° F (60 °C) for longer than 2 hours. Or 1 hour if above 90° F (32.2 °C).
The USDA refers to this range as the “Danger Zone.” Food that exceeds the recommended time within the danger zone is at greater risk of developing bacteria which can multiply rapidly and can lead to food borne illnesses.
To ensure food stays out of the danger zone just remember to keep cold foods cold 40° F (4.4 °C) and hot foods hot (above 140° F (60 °C)).
Still not sure whether your food is safe to keep or consume after a power outage?
Is My Food Safe to Eat?
If your freezer is full, you can expect that your food will remain at a safe temperature for 48 hours. This drops to 24 hours for a freezer that is half full and that’s provided that the door remains closed. We’ve put together the below safety chart based on the USDA and CDC guidelines for keeping food safe during an emergency.
Frozen Foods
Frozen foods can generally be re-frozen if they contain ice crystals and feel cold to touch, indicating that they have remained chilled during the power outage. However, you may notice changes in texture or flavor.
Refrigerated Foods
As stated above, if the power has been out for less than four hours and your refrigerator has remained closed, your food should be safe to consume.
If any perishable food was kept above 40° F for two hours or more, it may be unsafe. Follow these guidelines to know what foods are safe to eat and what to toss.
Unsafe Foods
Discard these foods if your refrigerator has been without power for more than 4 hours:
- Discard opened mayonnaise, tartar sauce, and horseradish if they were held above 50 °F for over 8 hours.
- Discard any foods like bread or salad greens that may have become contaminated by juices dripping from raw meat, poultry, or fish.
- In general, if any food has an unusual odor, color, or texture, throw it out.
Safe-to-Eat Foods
These foods are fine to keep as long as they don’t have an unusual odor or develop mold.
- High-acid foods such as mustard, ketchup, relishes, pickles, non-creamy salad dressings, jams, and jellies; however, they may spoil sooner.
While some foods need to be refrigerated to maintain freshness others don’t but many prefer to refrigerate them because they taste better cold or stay longer.
The following list of foods don’t actually require refrigeration. These foods may be consumed unless they turn moldy or have an unusual odor;
- whole fruits and vegetables (fresh);
- fruit and vegetable juices (unopened);
- dried fruits and coconut;
- bread, baked goods, and tortillas that don’t have a dairy-based element;
- hard and processed cheeses;
- butter and margarine;
- peanut butter;
- fresh herbs and spices;
- flour;
- Nuts.
WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT!
Are There Safe Ways to Keep Food Frozen?
Outdoor Ice and Snow
If you have a power outage during the winter, it’s natural to think you can just put food outdoors to keep it at safe temperatures.
THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED.
Outside temperatures can vary and food could be exposed to animals. It is not a safe way to store food.
What you can do, if temperatures are below freezing, is to take any containers you have on hand, fill them with water, and leave them outside to freeze. You can use this ice to replenish your freezer, fridge, or ice chest to help keep them cool.
Dry Ice
Using dry ice can help keep food at safe temperatures. Dry ice’s freezing temperature is -109 °F, making it a great substitute. But, it requires proper handling.
- Obtain dry ice if your power is going to be out for a prolonged period. Fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic-foot freezer for 2 days.
- Do not touch dry ice with bare hands as it can cause frostbite.
- Do not allow children to play with dry ice.
- Do not place dry ice in direct contact with food. Wrap it in newspapers or a towel.
- Place dry ice on the top shelf of the freezer and the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.
- Do not store dry ice in an airtight container or a latched ice chest. It should be in an area with good ventilation.
- Carbon dioxide will settle in low areas of a room. Be sure to store a container with dry ice in a garage or ground floor room with a door that can be left open.
Bottom line, if you can get a hold of dry ice, it can be a great asset. Just make sure to handle it properly. For more information, visit https://www.continentalcarbonic.com/keep-food-fresh.html.
Helpful Resources
The U.S. government has set up several resources to take the guesswork out of determining food safety.
We’ve put together a list of important websites and phone numbers for these agencies that are available to answer specific questions regarding food safety during an emergency.
USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline
For questions and assistance with meat, poultry and egg products call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline:
- Call: 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854). Listen to timely recorded food safety messages at the same number 24 hours a day.
- Email: [email protected]
- Hours: Monday-Friday 10am-6pm EST
- A live chat is available (English or Spanish) at https://ask.usda.gov/s/
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Foods except for meat, poultry, and eggs are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Visit www.fda.gov/Food/default.htm.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Information about food-borne illnesses and poisoning can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Visit https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
In an emergency scenario, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also has resources to respond to natural disasters which cause power outages.
For more information, visit https://www.fema.gov/blog/prepare-yourself-power-outage.
American Red Cross or Civil Defense
With offices in every state your local chapter of the American Red Cross or Civil Defense can also offer additional information about emergency management.
https://www.redcross.org/find-your-local-chapter.html
Conclusion
A power outage can come at any time. Take care of yourself and your family’s health with some of the helpful tips we’ve outlined. Prepare ahead and know what to do in order to preserve your perishables when possible. We hope you’ve learned more about food safety, and when thawed food is safe to eat. Take precautions, and you won’t be blindsided when the next storm hits.