What to Do If the Power Goes Out — How Long Is Fridge Food Safe

The power went out and you're staring at the fridge wondering how long before everything goes bad. The answer depends on how full it is and how often you open the door.

A full refrigerator keeps food cold for about 4 hours if the door stays closed. A full freezer maintains temperature for roughly 48 hours (24 hours if only half-full). Every time you open the door, you lose cold air fast. Resist the urge to check. If meat has thawed and its temperature has risen above 4°C, either cook it immediately or discard it. When in doubt, use a food thermometer. After a long outage, the rule is: if it's been above 4°C for more than 2 hours, throw it out.