How long food lasts in a power outage

AccuWeather

AccuWeather Meteorologist Tony Laubach talks about how long cold food can stay fresh when the power goes out.

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00:00At some point in our lives, we have to deal with power outages due to weather for a few hours or sometimes for a few days.

00:06So how long does food stay fresh in your fridge once the power is out?

00:09How long your food lasts depends on how many times you open your fridge and freezer doors.

00:13If you leave your fridge closed, all foods are safe to eat for at least 4 hours.

00:18After 4 hours without power, you must throw away perishable foods like dairy, eggs, meat and salads, condiments, bread, pastries without creamer,

00:25custards, some hard cheeses, uncut fruits and vegetables are all safe to eat after 4 hours if you leave your doors closed.

00:33Foods are safe to eat after 48 hours if the freezer is full, but only 24 hours if it's half full.

00:39If you're unsure, check the temperature. If your food has ice crystals or is 40 degrees and below, it's safe to eat.

00:45But keep doors closed as much as possible.

00:48For more safety and preparedness tips and tools, visit AccuWeather.com slash ready.

00:53For AccuWeather, I'm meteorologist Tony Laubach.

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