Keeping Food Safe When the Power Goes Out
What to keep, what to toss, and how to make the fridge last 4 hours and the freezer 48.
Question 1
The goal
Avoid food poisoning during and after a power outage.
Question 2
Materials
- Appliance thermometers (fridge and freezer)
- Coolers
- Ice or frozen water bottles
- Food thermometer
- Marker and tape
Question 3
Substitutes
- Frozen gel packs
- Dry ice (handle with gloves, ventilate)
- Snow in cold weather (in sealed bags)
Where to find it
| Material | Household | Wilderness | Urban / scavenged |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooler | Picnic cooler, bathtub with ice | Stream (sealed bags) | Foam cooler, grocery store |
| Thermometer | Kitchen drawer | Camping thermometer | Grocery / hardware store |
Question 4
Step by step
- 1
Before outages, keep the fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below and the freezer at 0°F (−18°C); put thermometers in both.
- 2
When the power fails, write the time on tape on the fridge door.
- 3
Keep doors closed. A full freezer holds about 48 hours (24 if half full); the fridge only about 4 hours.
- 4
If the outage will exceed 4 hours, move milk, meat, fish, eggs, leftovers and medicine to a cooler packed with ice.
- 5
Group frozen foods together so they keep each other cold.
- 6
Check cooler temperature every few hours; keep it at 40°F (4°C) or below and add ice as needed.
- 7
Eat non-perishables and the most perishable fridge foods first.
- 8
When power returns, check thermometers. Toss perishable food that was above 40°F for 2+ hours.
- 9
Freezer food with ice crystals or at 40°F or below can be refrozen safely.
- 10
Never taste food to test it — bacteria that cause illness don't change smell or taste. When in doubt, throw it out.
Saved steps go to My Survival Notebook.
Question 5
The science
Bacteria multiply fastest between 40°F and 140°F (4–60°C), doubling as often as every 20 minutes. Cold slows growth but doesn't kill them, so warm time adds up.
Question 6
Dangers & limits
- Never use a generator or grill indoors to cook or cool.
- Dry ice burns skin and releases CO2 — use gloves and ventilation.
- Insulin and some medicines need cool storage — ask your pharmacist.
Question 7
How you know it worked
Thermometers show safe temperatures and you can say exactly what was kept or discarded and why.