Food Safety

Food poisoning is the last thing anyone wants on top of a power outage. Keep these food safety tips in mind during and after a power outage. 

• Food in the fridge stays safe up to 4 hours in the fridge. 
• Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. 
• Bacteria grows quickly in the “danger zone” between 40°F and 140°F.
• Food in a freezer that is half full will safely hold frozen foods for at least 24 hours and a full freezer will hold frozen foods for 48 hours. 
• When in doubt, throw it out. Get detailed info at: Power Outage Guidance 
• Keep track of how long the power has been out. An outage that lasts less than 2 hours has little cause for concern. 

Are you in need of food? Call 211 to find a food pantry and other options near you. 

When power comes back, be sure to: 

• Throw out any perishable foods like meat, poultry, fish, eggs, or leftovers that have been in temperatures above 40° F for over 2 hours. 
• Throw away any frozen items that have fully thawed. (If the food still contains ice crystals or is 40° F or below, it is safe to refreeze or cook.)

If you have questions, call Lorain County Public Health at 440-322-6367.