Ready North Carolina
Prepare Now for Emergencies Visit Site
When the power goes out, it is critical you know what to do with the food in your refrigerator and freezer.
The first step: It’s important to keep the doors to the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
According to the federal health experts, food in your refrigerator and freezer is safe to consume if the power is out for less than two hours.
If the power is out for longer than two hours, federal health experts provide the following guidelines.
-For the Freezer section: A freezer that is half full will hold food safely for up to 24 hours. A full freezer will hold food safely for 48 hours. Do not open the freezer door if you can avoid it.
-For the Refrigerated section: The refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened.
To be safe, use a food thermometer to check the temperature of your food right before you cook or eat it. Throw away any food that has a temperature of more than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Click the related links below to for complete lists of foods and safety tips from the USDA and the CDC.
Prepare Now for Emergencies Visit Site
Hurricane Preparedness Fast Facts Visit Site
National Hurricane Center's Archive of Hurricane Seasons Visit Site
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