Food safety during a power outage
Ready & Resourceful
Guide: https://readyresourceful.com/preparedness/food-safety-power-outage/
Prepared: 7 October 2026

Prepare appliance thermometers and an outage record before disruption. During a blackout, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed and use the CDC time-and-temperature guidance below. Do not judge safety by taste or smell.

ACTION CHECKLIST
[ ] Prepare appliance thermometers.
[ ] Save the CDC emergency food guidance.
[ ] Keep a blank outage record and pen.
[ ] Note the known outage start time or write “unknown”.
[ ] Keep appliance doors closed.
[ ] Assess food using official guidance, not tasting.
[ ] Record replacements needed.

This is a planning aid, not a complete emergency plan or professional training. Follow local instructions and equipment manuals.

REFERENCES
CDC: Keep food safe after an emergency
https://www.cdc.gov/food-safety/foods/keep-food-safe-after-emergency.html

Additional checks:
[ ] Keep noticed-at and known-start times separate.
[ ] Use the official food-specific discard and refreezing charts.
[ ] Record uncertainty instead of inventing timing.

Expanded guide: https://readyresourceful.com/preparedness/food-safety-power-outage/