Last night’s storms knocked out power for more than 100,000 homes and businesses across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky — and that means millions of dollars in groceries may be at risk. Here’s everything you need to know to protect your family and save as much food as possible.
How long does your fridge or freezer stay safe?
The moment the power goes out, the clock starts ticking. Keep your doors closed as much as possible. Every time you open them, cold air escapes and food reaches unsafe temperatures faster.
- Refrigerator — About 4 hours
- Full freezer — About 48 hours
- Half-full freezer — About 24 hours
What to throw out of the refrigerator
If your power has been out for more than 4 hours, discard perishable items including:
- Meat, poultry, and seafood
- Eggs and dairy products — milk, yogurt, cheese
- Cooked leftovers
Meredith Carothers, a food safety expert with the USDA, said the 4-hour window has already passed for most people who lost power during Monday’s storms here in the Tri-State.
“So it’s been much longer than 4 hours for a lot of you, so we would definitely recommend throwing away any perishable items that are in your refrigerator like meat, poultry, cooked leftovers,” Carothers said.
One important note: Spoiled food is not safe for pets, either…