How long can my food last in the fridge after a power outage? Which experts what you should know.

If there’s one thing that provokes an “ugh” response, it’s realizing the power’s out — and it’s even worse when you have a fridge full of food. In addition to calling the electric company as soon as possible to find out what the problem is and when power will be restored, you’ll want to act quickly when it comes to the food in your refrigerator. Does everything need to be thrown away? Can any food be consumed afterwards? What can you do now to help it last longer?

According to experts, whether you should eat the food in your fridge after a power outage depends on a few factors. Here’s what you should know.

How long does food last in the fridge after the power goes out?

Technically, it’s not just about how long your food sits unrefrigerated, but how long it stays at a certain temperature. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a list of perishable foods that should be discarded if they have been held above 40°F for more than two hoursas this is when harmful bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses can begin to grow.

But obviously, it can be tricky to gauge exactly when your diet reaches that point—which is why the USDA advises that A properly functioning refrigerator should keep food safe for approximately four hours after a power outage. Jill RobertsFood safety expert and associate professor at the University of South Florida tells Yahoo Life that it’s important to keep your fridge closed as much as possible after you realize there’s a power outage — otherwise, the heat from outside the fridge can ruin your space. food even faster.

This is especially important during the summer, said the food scientist and author of the book 150 food science questions Bryan Quoc Le tells Yahoo Life, as “hotter summer days where the ambient temperature is well above 80°F will result in food warming to room temperature more quickly and will likely reduce the efficiency of the refrigerator.”

What about my freezer?

According to Le, food in the freezer can last 24 to 48 hours, depending on how full the freezer is and how long the door is closed. However, just because food has been previously frozen does not mean it can be eaten, as freezing does not kill microorganisms – it just stops them from growing. “Any microbial contamination that was already present in the food before it was frozen will remain,” she explains. Here is a practical guide to assess what can be safely refrozen (look for ice crystals and the food should still be cold) and what should be thrown away (anything that is thawed).

Can I store my food? As?

Let’s say the power just went out – and you want to preserve as much food as possible. Roberts says a cooler with ice will help keep food longer — but you need to be careful about monitoring the temperature. “You want to keep foods out of the ‘temperature danger zone,’” she says, referring to temperatures above 40°F, which can be checked with a food thermometer. (Be sure to follow USDA guidelines on proper thermometer placement.) “Your refrigerator keeps food below 40°F,” she says. “If the refrigerator exceeds this temperature, throw out the food.”

I’m not sure when the power went out. What should I do?

We don’t always know when our energy has run out, which can make it difficult to decide which foods to discard and keep. Roberts says it’s best to throw away meat, poultry, fish, eggs and leftovers after a power outage, as these products are “the first to go bad.” While hard cheeses are more stable, Roberts says milk and yogurt should also be discarded. “When in doubt, throw it away,” she says.

One thing you definitely shouldn’t do, according to the USDA? Taste your food to see if it is still safe to eat – as this could lead to you ingesting bacteria that can cause foodborne illness.

It’s also possible for your power to go out and come back on without you noticing because you were sleeping or away from home — which could mean your food wasn’t at a safe temperature and you didn’t notice. A useful trick is to keep a glass of frozen water in the freezer with a coin on top of the ice,” suggests Roberts. “If it melts, the coin falls to the bottom. In the same way, you can keep a popsicle [in the freezer] and it will change shape if it melts.” (Remember to avoid opening the freezer door more than necessary, as this can cause the food in that part of the refrigerator to heat up.)

There are some foods you can keep even if the power went out a while ago, explains Le. “Foods that contain high levels of sugars, acids and salt or have low moisture, such as soy sauce, jams, peanut butter, butter, hard cheeses, vinegar-based sauces and breads can be stored even if the refrigerator reaches temperature environment during an outage,” he says. “Uncut fruits and vegetables also keep much better even at room temperature, so they can also be stored.”

Ultimately, though, if you think your food might not be safe to eat (whether it’s due to the smell or the fact that you’re not sure how long it’s been sitting at an unsafe temperature), it’s always better to be safe than sorry.