How long will food last out of fridge?
Millions of Texans are currently without power due to an unprecedented winter storm and cold temperatures in the region. If you’re in this situation, you probably have a whole fridge and freezer of food you need to figure out what to do with.
Here are some basic food safety guidelines from the Food and Drug Administration:
• If you recently lost power, keep the doors to your fridge and freezer closed as much as possible to keep the cold in.
• If you have ice, place it in your fridge to keep it colder longer.
• Keep an eye on your fridge thermostat: If it’s at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below, food items are still safe.
• The FDA estimates the fridge will stay cold for about four hours if it remains unopened. The freezer will be cold enough for about 48 hours, with doors closed.
• The freezer should be at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. As it warms, any frozen food still at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or with ice crystals on it, is still safe.
The clock starts ticking when food reaches 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Abide by the two-hour rule for any perishables, including meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, dairy, leftovers, takeout and produce.
Remember: Food can make you ill even if it’s not visibly spoiled. Pathogenic bacteria, which cause foodborne illnesses, are different than the ones that make your food grow mold or smell funny.
What can I eat?
Here are some foods that do not need to be refrigerated and are safe to eat at room temperature (for a limited time):
• Store-bought bread (multi-grain, whole-grain and white) lasts five to seven days in the pantry; homemade bread lasts about four to five days.
• Crackers
• Butter: You can store unrefrigerated butter on the counter for about a week.
• Peanut butter
• Jam and honey
• Hot sauce
• Other condiments such as soy sauce, vinegar, olive oil and other oils, mustard, ketchup
• Fruit: bananas, apples, pears, peaches, plums, berries, oranges, clementines, grapefruit, melons
• The following vegetables don’t need refrigeration and can be eaten raw: tomatoes, cucumbers, avocados, bell peppers, radishes, carrots, kale and Brussels sprouts
• Canned food such as beans, corn and tuna (but without refrigeration they must be eaten immediately once opened)
• Beef jerky
• Granola bars, cereal
• Nuts, dried fruit and trail mix
What to do when the power comes back on:
• Check the temperature in your freezer when the power is restored. If it’s at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below, or food still has ice crystals on it, it can be refrozen safely.
• If the power was out fewer than four hours and the doors remained shut, food should still be safe. Any perishables that were above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for two hours or more should be thrown out.