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With all the content available online these days, it can be hard to figure out what’s real and what’s hype.While we don’t always have the answers, we have a direct line to people who do — which is why we present to you our series The Internet Made Me Ask, where we have experts break down the truth about some of the buzziest trends (and questions) on our timelines, like how often you should wash your jeans.When the power goes out, the clock starts ticking on everything in your refrigerator and freezer.
A fall storm, a downed line, a grid emergency — however the outage happens, you’re often left guessing: Is this still good? Do I need to toss it? And no, a simple sniff test does not tell you what you need to know.I spoke with two food safety experts about how long your food actually stays safe once the power fails, the signs it’s time to throw something out, and the simple steps that can help save your perishables the next time your power goes down.How long does food stay safe in the fridge and freezer after a power outage? First, to state the obvious, you don’t have to worry about non-perishable food in your pantry.When the power goes out, you really only need to think about perishable stuff in your fridge and freezer.
The good news: “A refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours if it is unopened,” says Dr.Vanessa Coffman, alliance director for Stop Foodborne Illness.
“A full freezer will keep the temperature for approximately 48 hours, or 24 hours if it is half full, but only if the door remains closed.” In other words, a well-stocked freezer buys you significantly more time than a fridge — but only if you can hold off on opening it.Both experts I spoke with agreed that this tactic of keeping your fridge and freezer shut is key.
“The most important thing you can do is keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible,” says Melissa Vaccaro, senior food safety program specialist at the National Environmen...