Health · Public Health & Disease · 7 hrs ago
Refrigerated food can stay cold for about four hours during a power outage
A power cut lets the temperature inside a refrigerator rise, which can make some foods unsafe.
A closed refrigerator can keep food cold for about four hours, while a full freezer can stay cold for around 48 hours and a half-full one for about 24 hours.
These are estimates, and opening the doors or warm conditions can shorten the time.
Perishable foods such as meat, seafood, milk, eggs and leftovers should be kept at 4°C or below.
If they have been above that temperature for two hours or more, they should be thrown away; in conditions above about 32°C, the limit may be one hour.
Food that still has ice crystals or is at 4°C or below after a power cut can be cooked or refrozen, though its quality may suffer.
Smell and taste cannot reliably show whether food is safe, and reheating may not remove all risks.
Keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed during an outage helps preserve food longer.
A refrigerator can keep food cold for about four hours without power if its door stays closed, according to the US Food and Drug Administration.
A full freezer can maintain a suitable temperature for about 48 hours, while a half-full freezer can do so for about 24 hours.
These times are estimates and can vary with room temperature, appliance condition and how often doors are opened.
Perishable food should be kept at 4 °C or below for safe refrigeration.
Perishable food exposed to temperatures above 4 °C for two hours or more should be discarded.
- Who
- The US Food and Drug Administration is cited for the refrigerator guidance.
- What
- Refrigerated food can stay cold for about four hours without power if the door remains closed.
- When
- During a power outage.
- Where
- In a refrigerator; the article gives no specific location for an outage.
- Why
- As the refrigerator warms, the risk of microorganisms growing in food increases.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
No direct quotes in the coverage so far.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Refrigerator
- About 4 hours without power if the door stays closed
- Full freezer
- About 48 hours
- Half-full freezer
- About 24 hours
- Safe refrigeration temperature
- 4 °C or below
- Discard threshold
- Above 4 °C for 2 hours or more
Sources
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