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Useful places to start

What should my household do first during an outage? A private, fixed-choice plan for the household systems an outage can disrupt. How much water should I store? A drinking and cooking baseline, confirmed extra water, container capacity, and filled weight. Is my fridge or freezer food still usable? A refrigerator/freezer timeline that hands off from elapsed time to temperature evidence. How long will my battery last? Runtime from constant watts or measured 24-hour energy, with a separate running-output check.
Browse 12 equipment model guides → Open My Household Plan → Printable worksheets →

Calculators Power outage food safety

Is my fridge or freezer food still usable?

Power outage refrigerator and freezer food-safety timeline

Starting example · edit below2 h to the reference checkpoint

Do this now: Keep the refrigerator or freezer closed as much as possible.

Appliance
Outage conditions

If the start time is uncertain, check temperature and food-specific guidance.

0–168 hours

Power-outage food-safety checkpoint

Use this as the next checkpoint, then use temperature and current federal item guidance when the clock no longer answers the question.

Current status

You are still within the general federal cold-retention window.

Keep the appliance closed and prepare for the next checkpoint.

Outage time

2 hours

Federal reference window

4 hours (refrigerator)

What this means

This is a time-and-door-position checkpoint, not a guarantee about every food item. Keep the door closed, preserve cold, and use temperature evidence when power returns.

What to do now

  • Keep the refrigerator or freezer closed as much as possible.
  • Do not taste food to decide whether it is safe.
  • Prepare a cooler, ice, or another verified cold source if the outage is likely to continue beyond this window.

When power returns

  • Check the refrigerator or food temperature when power returns.
  • If the outage stayed within four hours and the door remained closed, FDA says refrigerated food should generally remain safe; continue to use current item-specific guidance.
  • Discard perishable refrigerated food when the federal temperature-and-time discard conditions are met.
Do not use smell or appearance as the safety test. Floodwater, chemical contamination, uncertain temperature history, or a current public-health instruction can require disposal sooner than this timeline suggests.

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These are the exact fields and values in the link. The link never contains a saved draft or My Plan data.

Appliance
refrigerator
Outage Hours
2
Doors Stayed Closed
true
Freezer Fullness
full

Creates home-resilience-hub-food-safety-outage-plan.csv on this device with these result values and planning assumption.

The clock at a glance

The 4-hour, 24-hour, and 48-hour checkpoints

These timeframes assume the appliance stays closed. They describe how long the appliance generally retains cold, not a guarantee for every food item or every refrigerator or freezer.

Compare columns. Swipe or scroll horizontally on smaller screens.
Checkpoint General federal guidance What changes next
0–4 hours An unopened refrigerator generally keeps food cold for about 4 hours. Keep doors closed. Stage ice or a cooler if the outage is expected to continue.
About 24 hours A half-full unopened freezer generally holds temperature for about 24 hours. After this point, package temperature and ice crystals matter more than the clock alone.
About 48 hours A full unopened freezer generally holds temperature for about 48 hours. Use the freezer thermometer or inspect each package under current FDA/USDA guidance.
Power restored Frozen food with ice crystals or at 40°F / 4°C or below may generally be refrozen or cooked. Refrigerated perishables need the federal time-and-temperature decision; never taste food to test it.
Flooding changes the decision. Food or packaging exposed to contaminated floodwater can require disposal regardless of refrigerator or freezer time.

Plan first. Buy what is missing.

Check appliance thermometers and manual kitchen tools

Food-safety decisions depend on measured appliance temperatures and shelf-stable fallbacks. These documented examples are not selected from your calculator answers.

−20°F to 80°F; Fahrenheit and Celsius scales Listed temperature range

Commercial Dial · Fridge/Freezer Thermometer

Rubbermaid FGR80DC Appliance Thermometer

Check first: An existing readable appliance thermometer that already meets the household's needs.

More specifications & fit

The Rubbermaid Commercial FGR80DC is a hanging or standing refrigerator/freezer dial thermometer with Fahrenheit and Celsius scales. Use it to observe appliance temperature alongside the exact appliance and thermometer instructions. A current reading does not establish an earlier outage's temperature history or make food safe.

Listed temperature range
−20°F to 80°F; Fahrenheit and Celsius scales Manufacturer source for Listed temperature range (checked 2026-10-24; opens in a new tab)
Dial diameter
Not verified in this source record Manufacturer source for Dial diameter (checked 2026-10-24; opens in a new tab)
Numeric accuracy tolerance
Not verified in this source record Manufacturer source for Numeric accuracy tolerance (checked 2026-10-24; opens in a new tab)

An existing readable appliance thermometer that already meets the household's needs.

Read the fit and limitations →
−20°F to 80°F Listed temperature range

Compact Dial · 2.5-In Appliance Thermometer

Taylor 3507 Appliance Thermometer

Dial diameter
2.5 in

Check first: A thermometer with documented alarms or history when the household needs those functions; verify the exact model manual before choosing.

More specifications & fit

A refrigerator/freezer appliance thermometer gives a visible temperature reading while stored in the appliance. Taylor lists the 3507 dial from −20°F to 80°F, with hanging or standing placement. Use it as one part of a food-safety plan, not as a record of outage temperature history.

Listed temperature range
−20°F to 80°F Manufacturer source for Listed temperature range (checked 2026-10-04; opens in a new tab)
Dial diameter
2.5 in Manufacturer source for Dial diameter (checked 2026-10-04; opens in a new tab)
Numeric accuracy tolerance
Not verified in this source record Manufacturer source for Numeric accuracy tolerance (checked 2026-10-04; opens in a new tab)

A thermometer with documented alarms or history when the household needs those functions; verify the exact model manual before choosing.

Read the fit and limitations →
7 × 2 × 3 in Listed dimensions

Standard Tool · Cushioned Rotary Opener

OXO Soft-Handled Can Opener

Manufacturer care instructions
Hand wash the can opener.

Check first: Ready-to-eat pouches, pull-tab cans, or other foods that do not require this tool.

More specifications & fit

A hand-operated can opener can make shelf-stable canned food usable when power is out, but the can and tool still need safe handling and the user must be able to turn the knob comfortably. OXO lists cushioned handles, a large knob, and a stainless-steel cutting wheel for SKU 28081.

Opening method
Manual rotary can opener with large cushioned handles and an oversized turning knob. Manufacturer source for Opening method (checked 2026-10-04; opens in a new tab)
Listed dimensions
7 × 2 × 3 in Manufacturer source for Listed dimensions (checked 2026-10-04; opens in a new tab)
Manufacturer care instructions
Hand wash the can opener. Manufacturer source for Manufacturer care instructions (checked 2026-10-04; opens in a new tab)

Ready-to-eat pouches, pull-tab cans, or other foods that do not require this tool.

Read the fit and limitations →
7.5 × 4.5 × 2.25 in Listed dimensions

Safety Upgrade · Smooth-Edge Side Opener

OXO Smooth Edge Can Opener (1049953)

Manufacturer care instructions
Hand wash only.

Check first: The intended person cannot reliably grip/turn/control this tool; test another opener or choose meal packaging that works for them.

More specifications & fit

A specific below-rim, manual can opener (OXO Good Grips SKU 1049953) with a built-in lid gripper. Verify the exact SKU and let the intended user try it on stored cans before relying on the mechanism.

Opening method
Manual rotary can opener; place on can edge, turn clockwise one full rotation, release by turning knob counterclockwise once, then use button and built-in pliers to lift lid. Manufacturer source for Opening method (checked 2026-10-25; opens in a new tab)
Listed dimensions
7.5 × 4.5 × 2.25 in Manufacturer source for Listed dimensions (checked 2026-10-25; opens in a new tab)
Manufacturer care instructions
Hand wash only. Manufacturer source for Manufacturer care instructions (checked 2026-10-25; opens in a new tab)

The intended person cannot reliably grip/turn/control this tool; test another opener or choose meal packaging that works for them.

Read the fit and limitations →

Manufacturer-source research; no hands-on testing.

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Use the timer as a handoff, not a verdict

Food-safety decisions become more evidence-heavy as the outage continues. Keep doors closed, use appliance thermometers, preserve a colder verified option when available, and move to item-specific federal guidance instead of relying on smell or appearance.

  1. Record when power failed and keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
  2. At the relevant 4-, 24-, or 48-hour checkpoint, switch from the simple timer to temperature and item-specific guidance.
  3. When power returns, check appliance or food temperature promptly and use the current FDA/USDA save-or-discard guidance.

Common questions

How long will food last in a refrigerator without power?

FDA guidance says an unopened refrigerator keeps food cold for about four hours. Keep the door closed, use a thermometer when available, and use current item-specific guidance when the outage exceeds that window or the temperature history is uncertain.

How long will a freezer stay cold during an outage?

A full unopened freezer generally holds temperature for about 48 hours; a half-full unopened freezer for about 24 hours. When power returns, frozen food that still contains ice crystals or is 40°F / 4°C or below may generally be refrozen or cooked under FDA guidance.

Can I tell whether food is safe by smell?

No. Do not use smell, appearance, or tasting as a safety test. Use time, measured temperature, ice-crystal evidence for frozen food, and current FDA/USDA item guidance.