Food safety after power loss
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Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Without power, a refrigerator keeps food safe for about 4 hours; a full freezer about 48 hours and a half-full freezer about 24 hours. Never taste food to test safety. Use official discard guidance and a thermometer.
Take it with you. Verify locally.
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In immediate danger, contact local emergency services. Current instructions for your location take priority.
Do now.
- 01
Note the time
Record when power failed and avoid opening cold storage.
- 02
Use temperatures
Check appliance and food temperatures when safe; appearance and smell do not prove safety.
- 03
Discard risky food
After 4 hours without power or another cold source, discard refrigerated perishables such as meat, eggs and leftovers.
- 04
Check frozen food
Food with ice crystals or at 40°F or below can generally be refrozen or cooked; use official food-specific charts.
Next steps.
Clean appliances and replace spoiled supplies. Keep thermometers available before the next outage.
Watch for.
Do not serve questionable food to people or pets.
Sources & context.
Original Osprey Zero summary of the references below. U.S.-based guidance unless noted; check authorities where you are. This page is not a live alert.
Updated 2026-10-02. Recheck official instructions during an active event.