Power Outage Food Safety: How Long Until It’s Unsafe?

In a power outage, food safety comes down to time and temperature. General food-safety guidance: a closed refrigerator holds safe temperatures for about 4 hours, and a full freezer for about 48 hours (24 hours if half full).

The danger zone

Perishable food held above 40°F for more than 2 hours should generally be discarded. For specific product temperatures, see the food safety temperature guide.

• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
• Use a thermometer — judge by temperature, not by appearance or smell.
• When in doubt, throw it out; do not refreeze thawed product that warmed past safe temps.

When to bring in backup

For extended outages or high-value inventory, a generator-backed or diesel emergency rental bridges the gap before product crosses the danger line.