Power Outage Food Safety Timer: Fridge and Freezer Guidance

How long has the power been out? Enter the hours, how full your freezer is and whether the fridge has been opened, and see what USDA food safety guidance says about your refrigerator and freezer.

How to use this tool

1. Enter the hours without power so far.
2. Enter how full the freezer is: 100 for full, 50 for half full.
3. Enter how many times the fridge has been opened since the outage began.
4. Use an appliance thermometer to confirm temperatures before deciding.

Worked example

Three hours into an outage with a full freezer and an unopened fridge, food in the refrigerator is likely still cold, with about one hour left before the USDA four-hour guideline, and the freezer is likely still frozen, since a full freezer holds for about 48 hours if the door stays closed.

Understanding your results

USDA guidance: a refrigerator keeps food safe for about 4 hours if unopened; a full freezer about 48 hours and a half-full freezer about 24 hours. Throw out perishable refrigerated food that has been above 40 degrees F for two hours or more. Frozen food with ice crystals or at 40 degrees F or below can be refrozen. When in doubt, throw it out.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Opening the fridge to check on food, which lets the cold out.
• Tasting food to decide whether it is safe.
• Relying on smell or appearance, which do not reveal bacteria.
• Not having appliance thermometers in place before the outage.

Next steps

Prepare for the next outage with the Power Outage Checklist.

Frequently asked questions

How long can a refrigerator go without power?

USDA says a refrigerator keeps food safe for about 4 hours if the door stays closed. After that, check temperatures and discard perishables that have been above 40 degrees F for two hours or more.

How long does a freezer stay frozen without power?

A full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours and a half-full freezer for about 24 hours, if the door stays closed.

Can I refreeze food that thawed during an outage?

Food that still contains ice crystals or is at 40 degrees F or below can be refrozen, though quality may suffer. Food that warmed above that should follow USDA discard guidance.

This tool is for planning and education only. It does not store your entries. Work on home wiring must be done by a licensed electrician. Read our disclaimer.