What to keep and what to toss out your fridge following a power outage (2024)

SALINAS, Calif. —

As if losing your power wasn't bad enough, now the groceries you spent an obscene amount on may not be fit for consumption. Storms tore through California over the weekend, and at their peak, 65,000 lost power across the Central Coast.

Many are still waiting for their power to return and could remain waiting for at least a day more. The groceries in your refrigerator don't have that time left to wait.

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Here are some tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to know what to toss and what to keep:

1. Do NOT taste food to know if it is safe. "When in doubt, throw it out."
2. After four hours without power, throw out perishable foods in the fridge, such as meat, fish, cut fries and vegetables, eggs, milk and leftovers.
3. After 24 hours, throw out perishable foods in the freezer.
4. Throw out foods with strange odors, colors, or textures.
5. Throw out food above 40 degrees.
6. Put food still salvageable in the freezer with an added cold source.
7. You can safely refreeze or cook thawed frozen food that still contains ice crystals or is below 40 degrees.