Food safety guidelines for maintaining perishables during power outages

During a power outage, the safety of perishable food depends heavily on keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed. According to food safety experts, an unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for approximately four hours.

A full freezer can maintain its temperature for about 48 hours, while a half-full freezer lasts roughly 24 hours, provided the door remains shut. Experts emphasize that minimizing the frequency of opening these appliances is the most critical step in preserving food temperature and safety during an outage.