Do not judge food safety by smell after an outage
Keep doors closed, note the time and use reliable guidance.
Food can become unsafe after a power cut even when it looks normal. U.S. CDC guidance assumes doors stay closed and gives about four hours for a refrigerator, 48 hours for a full freezer and 24 hours for a half-full freezer. These are reference values from U.S. public-health guidance; ambient temperature, equipment and door opening affect actual conditions. Elsewhere, follow local food-safety authorities. Appliance thermometers and a cooler with ice can help assess the situation. Never taste food to test it.
Keep cold air inside
Close refrigerator and freezer doors and note when the outage began. CDC’s U.S. guidance assumes doors remain closed; its times are not a guarantee for every model or room temperature. If you have appliance thermometers, check against local food-safety thresholds.
Use local rules for perishable food
U.S. CDC guidance says to discard refrigerated perishable foods after four hours without power or another cold source. It also distinguishes full and half-full freezers. Temperature limits, rules and conditions can differ elsewhere, so check the latest advice from local authorities.
Do not taste questionable food or pass it on
Appearance, odor and taste cannot reliably rule out danger. Do not take a bite to check. For perishable food exposed to unsafe temperatures, follow local discard guidance when in doubt. An appliance thermometer and cooler are easier to use than a guess after an outage.
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Questions to prepare for
- Open refrigerator and freezer doors as little as possible during an outage.
- Use an appliance thermometer and local official charts; do not rely on smell.
- Check with local health authorities about infant, illness-related and special-diet needs.
Public references
Preparation notes based on public resources. No independent clinical or technical expert review is claimed. Follow current local guidance.
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