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How Long Will Food Last in a Fridge Without Power? Fridge and Freezer Times
Food stays safe in a closed refrigerator for about 4 hours without power. A full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours, or about 24 hours if it is half full, as long as the door stays closed. Those are the figures from USDA, FoodSafety.gov, and Ready.gov. After that, perishable food that has been above 40°F for 2 hours should be thrown out.
How long food lasts without power
| Appliance | Food stays safe for about | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 4 hours | Door kept closed |
| Full freezer | 48 hours | Door kept closed |
| Half-full freezer | 24 hours | Door kept closed |
Sources: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, "Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency"; FoodSafety.gov, "Food Safety During a Power Outage"; Ready.gov, "Power Outages."
The temperatures that matter
- 40°F or below in the refrigerator, and 0°F or lower in the freezer, per USDA.
- The 2-hour rule: USDA says to discard perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers that has been above 40°F for 2 hours.
- Refreezing: frozen food can be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40°F or below, according to USDA.
- Never taste food to decide if it is safe. FoodSafety.gov is clear on this one.
An appliance thermometer in the fridge and freezer tells you the real temperature when the power comes back, so you are not guessing.
What to keep and what to throw out
From the FoodSafety.gov refrigerator chart, for food held above 40°F for more than 2 hours:
| Throw out | Usually OK to keep |
|---|---|
| Raw or cooked meat, poultry, and seafood; lunch meat and hot dogs | Hard cheeses such as Cheddar, Swiss, and Parmesan |
| Milk, cream, sour cream, and yogurt | Butter and margarine |
| Eggs and egg dishes | Uncut fresh fruit and vegetables |
| Soft and shredded cheeses | Peanut butter, jelly, mustard, ketchup, pickles |
| Cooked pasta, rice, and potatoes; cut fruit and vegetables | Bread |
Check the full chart at FoodSafety.gov for anything not listed. When in doubt, throw it out.
How to make it last longer
- Keep the doors shut. Every one of those time limits assumes the door stays closed.
- Keep the freezer full. A full freezer lasts about twice as long as a half-full one.
- Move food to a cooler with ice if the outage runs past 4 hours.
- Power the fridge. The surest way to save the food is to keep the refrigerator running.
Keep the fridge running: power station or generator
A typical bottom-freezer refrigerator uses about 1.6 kWh a day (the ENERGY STAR median), or about 65 watts averaged over the day. Run time with nothing else plugged in:
| Power station | Capacity / output | Fridge run time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | 1,070 Wh / 1,500 W | About 15 hours | From $499 |
| Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 | 2,042 Wh / 2,200 W | About 28 hours | From $899 |
| Jackery HomePower 3000 | 3,072 Wh / 3,600 W (7,200 W surge) | About 43 hours | From $1,349 |
Hours = capacity x 0.9 / 65 W. Capacity, output, and surge are from each product page. Your fridge's EnergyGuide label gives its own yearly kWh. For longer outages, a generator keeps going as long as you have fuel. The DuroMax XP5500HX (5,500 starting / 4,500 running watts, dual fuel, CO alert shutoff, $629) runs a fridge and a freezer with room to spare.
More on sizing: What Size Generator to Run a Refrigerator, Portable Power Station for a Refrigerator, and How Many Watts Does a Freezer Use?
Need help sizing? Call 1-888-855-7286. Tell us your fridge and freezer and how long your outages usually last, and we will match you to a power station or generator.
Food without power FAQ
How long will food last in a fridge without power? About 4 hours if the door stays closed, according to USDA and FoodSafety.gov.
How long does food last in a freezer without power? About 48 hours in a full freezer and about 24 hours in a half-full freezer, with the door closed.
Can I refreeze food that thawed? Yes, if it still has ice crystals or is at 40°F or below, per USDA.
When should I throw out food after a power outage? Discard perishables such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers that have been above 40°F for 2 hours.
What keeps a fridge running in an outage? A power station with at least 1,500 W of output, or a generator. A 2,042 Wh Explorer 2000 v2 runs a typical fridge for about 28 hours.