What is the best way to keep food safe during a power outage?

Keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed is the best way to maintain food safety during a power outage. When the doors remain closed, the cold air inside the refrigerator and freezer is trapped, which helps to keep the food at a safe temperature for a longer period of time. A refrigerator can typically maintain its temperature for about four hours if unopened, while a full freezer will maintain an adequately cold temperature for up to 48 hours.

Opening the doors frequently allows warm air to enter, which increases the internal temperature and can cause food to enter the danger zone for bacterial growth more quickly. Discarding all perishable foods immediately is not always necessary, as many items can remain safe if the power outage is managed appropriately. While transferring food to ice coolers can be beneficial for certain situations, when the goal is to keep the temperature stable, it is more effective to leave the refrigerator and freezer doors closed.