What to Throw Out After a Power Outage
Nutrient in Your Fridge or Freezer During a Power Outage: What's Prophylactic To Keep, What To Throw Out
When in doubtfulness, throw information technology out… simply use these charts as a guide to come across what may be safe to keep.
One of the showtime questions that arises after the power is out for an extended length of time is what food you need to throw out and what food is safe to keep. Hither you'll find a list of common foods from the fridge and freezer and guidance on what you can keep and what needs to be discarded. Always inspect each particular advisedly and use your best judgement; if ever in incertitude, throw it out!
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Food in the Refrigerator: What To Keep and What To Throw Out
Food is safe in your refrigerator for up to four hours during a ability outage, according to the FDA. Avoid opening and closing the refrigerator door, however brief, to ensure the refrigerator stays every bit cool equally possible. Use the following charts as a general guide to what food from the fridge should be thrown out after a power outage if the food is held above 40 degrees F for more than 2 hours:
Condiments, Sauces, and Spreads
| Food if held above 40°F for 2+ hours | Action |
| Jam, jelly, chutney, preserves | Keep |
| Pickles, olives, savor | Keep |
| Vinegar-based salad dressing (opened) | Keep |
| Creamy salad dressing (opened) | Discard |
| Ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce, steak sauce, taco sauce | Keep |
| Soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, hoisin sauce | Keep |
| Fish sauce, oyster sauce | Discard |
| Spaghetti sauce, pasta sauce (opened) | Discard |
| Commercial garlic in oil | Discard |
| Peanut butter | Keep |
| Mayonnaise, tartar sauce, horseradish | Discard** |
**If to a higher place 50°F for more than 8 hours
Dairy, Cheese, and Eggs
| Food if held above xl°F for two+ hours | Action |
| Eggs (raw or cooked) | Discard |
| Milk, buttermilk, evaporated milk | Discard |
| Foam, sour foam, one-half and half | Discard |
| Butter, margarine | Go along |
| Yogurt, kefir | Discard |
| Babe formula (opened) | Discard |
| Soft cheeses (blue, Brie, Camembert, Edam, Monterey Jack, ricotta, mozzarella, Muenster, Neufchatel, chevre, queso blanco, queso fresco) | Discard |
| Hard and semi-hard cheeses (Cheddar, Colby, Swiss, Parmesan, provolone, Manchego, Gruyere, Pecorino Romano) | Keep |
| Cottage cheese | Discard |
| Cream cheese | Discard |
| Candy cheese (eastward.g., Velveeta) | Go on |
| Shredded cheese | Discard |
| Grated difficult cheese (due east.g., Parmesan) | Keep |
| Pudding, custard, eggnog | Discard |
Meat, Poultry, and Seafood
| Food if held to a higher place xl°F for 2+ hours | Activeness |
| Raw meat, poultry, fish, or seafood; soy meat substitutes | Discard |
| Leftover cooked meat, poultry, fish, seafood, meat substitutes | Discard |
| Lunchmeats, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, salami, common cold cuts | Discard |
| Canned meat, ham, fish (opened) | Discard |
| Broth, stock (opened) | Discard |
| Salads (tuna, chicken, shrimp, etc.) | Discard |
Fruits and Vegetables
| Food if held above 40°F for 2+ hours | Activity |
| Fresh fruit or vegetables, cutting | Discard |
| Fresh fruit or vegetables, uncut | Keep |
| Vegetables, cooked | Discard |
| Greens (pre-washed, packaged) | Discard |
| Mushrooms, fresh | Keep |
| Tofu, cooked | Discard |
| Fruit juice (opened or unopened) | Go on |
| Vegetable juice (opened) | Discard |
| Canned fruit (opened or unopened) | Keep |
| Dried fruit, candied fruits, raisins, figs, prunes, dates | Continue |
| Coconut (sliced or shredded) | Discard |
| Fruit pies or pastries | Continue |
Prepared Foods
| Food if held higher up xl°F for 2+ hours | Action |
| Bread, rolls, bagels, flatbreads, tortillas | Proceed |
| Cakes, muffins, biscuits, pancakes, waffles, quick breads | Keep |
| Refrigerator dough (rolls, biscuits, cookie) | Discard |
| Pasta, rice, quinoa, other grains (cooked) | Discard |
| Fresh pasta (uncooked) | Discard |
| Pasta salad, rice salad, grain salad, spud salad | Discard |
| Cream-filled baked goods (pastries, cakes, pies, etc.) | Discard |
| Cheesecake, mousse cake | Discard |
| Sugariness or savory egg- or cream-based pies (due east.g., custard pie, quiche) | Discard |
| Casseroles, soups, stews | Discard |
| Baked potatoes | Discard |
Food in the Freezer: What To Keep and What To Throw Out
After a power outage, a freezer will hold a safe temperature for up to 48 hours if it is full, and up to 24 hours if it is half full. Always keep the door airtight and avoid opening and closing the door during an outage, still brief.
Dairy and Desserts
| Food | Has ice crystals & feels cold as if refrigerated | Thawed & held to a higher place 40°F for ii+ hours |
| Milk | Refreeze | Discard |
| Eggs and egg products | Refreeze | Discard |
| Ice cream, sherbet, frozen yogurt | Discard | Discard |
| Cheesecake | Refreeze | Discard |
| Cheese, soft | Refreeze | Discard |
| Shredded cheese | Refreeze | Discard |
| Cheese, difficult | Refreeze | Refreeze |
Meat, Poultry, and Seafood
| Food | Has ice crystals & feels common cold equally if refrigerated | Thawed & held above 40°F for 2+ hours |
| Meat, poultry, seafood (all cuts and preparations) | Refreeze | Discard |
| Stews, soups | Refreeze | Discard |
| Broth, stock | Refreeze | Discard |
Fruits and Vegetables
| Food | Has ice crystals & feels cold equally if refrigerated | Thawed & held above 40°F for 2+ hours |
| Fruit (commercially or home packaged) | Refreeze | Refreeze** |
| Fruit juice | Refreeze | Refreeze** |
| Vegetables (commercially or abode packaged; raw or blanched) | Refreeze | Discard afterwards held above 40°F for 6 hours |
| Vegetable juice | Refreeze | Discard subsequently held to a higher place 40°F for half dozen hours |
**Discard if moldy, evil-smelling, or slimy
Other Foods
| Nutrient | Has water ice crystals & feels cold as if refrigerated | Thawed & held above xl°F for 2+ hours |
| Frozen meals, pizza, meat pies | Refreeze | Discard |
| Casseroles (pasta or rice based | Refreeze | Discard |
| Breakfast items (bagels, waffles, pancakes) | Refreeze | Refreeze |
| Flour, cornmeal, nuts | Refreeze | Refreeze |
| Pie crusts, staff of life dough | Refreeze | Refreeze |
| Breads, rolls, muffins, cakes (without custard or cheese filling) | Refreeze | Refreeze |
| Breads, cakes, pies, pastries (with custard or cheese filling) | Refreeze | Discard |
Food Safety Tips During a Power Outage
- Don't taste food to gauge
Never gustation food when trying to make up one's mind if it is safe to consume or not. If you're always unsure or even have a suspicion that something is dangerous to swallow, information technology should be discarded.
- Check temperatures
Use the refrigerator's own thermometer or an appliance thermometer to bank check the temperature of the fridge afterward 4 hours; if it is at or below 40 degrees F, according to the FDA your nutrient should be condom to consume. You can also check the temperature of the food itself by using a food thermometer.
- Consider water ice for long outages
According to the FDA: "Buy dry or block water ice to keep the fridge as cold every bit possible if the power is going to be out for a prolonged period of fourth dimension. Fifty pounds of dry ice should continue an eighteen cubic foot, fully stocked freezer cold for 2 days."
Related:
- How to Feed the Family unit During a Power Outage
- How to Safely Freeze, Thaw, and Reheat Food
Source: https://www.allrecipes.com/article/food-to-keep-after-power-outage/
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