June 3o, 2023 – After a powerful storm Thursday, sustained power outages mean you may need to consider a refrigerator clean-out. The Macon County Health Department has released a guide to help you decide what to keep and what to throw away.
During a Power Outage
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed.
- The refrigerator will keep food safe for up to 4 hours.
- A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full).
- In freezers, food in the front, in the door, or in small, thin packages will defrost faster than large, thick items or food in the back or bottom of the unit.
After a Power Outage
- Never taste food to determine its safety. When In Doubt, Throw It Out!
Refrigerated Foods
Unsafe Foods
- Discard the following if your refrigerator has been without power for more than 4 hours:
- raw, cooked, or leftover meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and egg substitutes;
- luncheon meat and hot dogs;
- casseroles, soups, stews, and pizza;
- mixed salads (i.e., chicken, tuna, macaroni, potato);
- gravy and stuffing;
- milk, cream, yogurt, sour cream, and soft cheeses;
- cut fruits and vegetables (fresh);
- cooked vegetables;
- fruit and vegetable juices (opened);
- creamy-based salad dressing;
- batters and doughs (i.e., pancake batter, cookie dough);
- custard, chiffon, or cheese pies;
- cream-filled pastries; and
- garlic stored in oil.
- Discard opened mayonnaise, tartar sauce, and horseradish if they were held above 50 °F for over 8 hours.
- Discard any foods like bread or salad greens that may have become contaminated by juices dripping from raw meat, poultry, or fish.
- In general, if any food has an unusual odor, color, or texture, throw it out.
Safe-to-Eat Foods
- High-acid foods such as mustard, ketchup, relishes, pickles, non-creamy salad dressings, jams, and jellies; however, they may spoil sooner.
- Foods that don’t actually require refrigeration. These foods may be used unless they turn moldy or have an unusual odor;
- whole fruits and vegetables (fresh);
- fruit and vegetable juices (unopened);
- dried fruits and coconut;
- baked goods such as fruit pies, bread, rolls, muffins, and cakes (except those with cream cheese frosting or cream fillings);
- hard and processed cheeses;
- butter and margarine;
- fresh herbs and spices;
- flour; and
- nuts.
Frozen Foods
Safe-to-Eat Foods
- Frozen foods that have thawed, but still contain ice crystals.
- Foods that have remained at refrigerator temperatures — 40 °F or below. They may be safely refrozen; however, their quality may suffer.
- Foods that don’t actually need to be frozen. These foods may be used unless they turn moldy or have an unusual odor:
- dried fruits and coconut;
- baked goods including fruit pies, bread, rolls, muffins, and cakes (except for those with cream cheese frosting or cream fillings);
- hard and processed cheeses;
- butter and margarine;
- fruit juices; and
- nuts.
- Never taste food to determine its safety.
