What to Eat First During a Power Outage

ByMariah Phillips-Gallo, 07/16/2019

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When the power goes out, don't scramble to eat everything—make a plan!

How Long Do I Have?

So, the power went out. Right now you're probably worrying about when it will come back on, because you've got a fridge full of groceries. The first thing you should do is resist the temptation to open the refrigerator door unnecessarily—your food will stay cold longer if you leave it closed!

If you think the power outage will last more than a couple of hours, you need to start planning out how to eat the food before it goes bad. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, most food will last in the (closed) fridge for about 4 hours, and in the (closed) freezer for up to 48 hours. While some things will be safe to eat (or refrozen) after this point, many won't, so you should plan accordingly.

Whether it's due to a storm or an overloaded transformer, here's what to eat in case of a power outage.