Overview
- CDC and USDA reiterate that a closed refrigerator keeps food at or below 40°F for about four hours before many perishables become unsafe.
- FDA advises that a full freezer can hold safe temperatures for up to 48 hours and a half-full unit for about 24 hours if the door stays closed.
- After four hours without power, officials say to discard raw or cooked meats and poultry, fish and shellfish, eggs, soft cheeses, milk and yogurt, leftovers, prepared salads, cut produce, raw dough, cream-filled desserts and any opened infant formula.
- Foods that generally remain safe include shelf-stable condiments, jams and pickles, olives, butter and margarine, hard and processed cheeses, bread and pastries without cream filling, whole fruits and vegetables, nuts and dried fruit.
- Authorities urge keeping appliance doors closed, avoiding taste tests because some pathogens leave no warning signs and monitoring National Weather Service updates as outages persist or service returns.