Storms and outages are hard on food and appliances. See how long a refrigerator and freezer stay safe, and what to check when the power comes back on.
During an outage, keep the refrigerator and freezer closed. The USDA says (opens in a new tab) a closed refrigerator keeps food safe for about 4 hours. A full freezer (opens in a new tab) holds its temperature for about 48 hours, and a half-full one for about 24 hours.
During the outage
- Report the outage to your utility, such as BGE (opens in a new tab) or Pepco (opens in a new tab).
- Do not open the doors to check on food unless you need to.
- Add ice to a cooler if the outage will run past 4 hours.
- Unplug sensitive appliances if you can do so safely, since surges can occur (opens in a new tab) when the power returns.
When the power comes back
- Check food with a thermometer. Throw out perishable food that has been above 40°F for more than 2 hours (opens in a new tab).
- Food in the freezer can be refrozen (opens in a new tab) if it still has ice crystals or has stayed at 40°F or below.
- Listen for the compressor. A click every few minutes without cooling suggests it did not restart.
- Check that the freezer temperature is heading back to 0°F within several hours.
If an appliance acts strangely
A control board can behave oddly after a surge. Unplug the appliance for a few minutes, or turn it off at the breaker, then try it again. Also check for tripped breakers and GFCI outlets, especially for appliances in a garage, basement or outbuilding. An electric dryer or range uses a double breaker, so reset it fully off and then on.
Plan ahead
Keep appliance thermometers in the refrigerator and freezer so you can read the temperature right away. Frozen water jugs fill empty freezer space and help it hold the cold. A plug-in surge protector made for appliances can help protect control boards. If an appliance still will not run properly after you have checked the power, call and tell us what it is doing. If your refrigerator is not cooling after the outage, start with our checklist, or see our appliance repair services.
Sources
- Keep Your Food Safe During Emergencies (opens in a new tab)USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
- Food Safety During Power Outage (opens in a new tab)FoodSafety.gov
- Food and Water Safety During Power Outages and Floods (opens in a new tab)U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Keep Food Safe After a Disaster or Emergency (opens in a new tab)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Power Outages (opens in a new tab)Ready.gov
- BGE outages (opens in a new tab)Baltimore Gas and Electric
- Pepco outages (opens in a new tab)Pepco
