How To Properly Prep Your Fridge For A Power Outage
By the summer 2025, 45% of utility customers in the United States had experienced at least one power outage, lasting on average almost 13 hours, according to a startling JD Power survey. That same year, the Energy Department warned the public that blackouts could increase by a factor of 100 by 2030. As communities across the U.S. face increasingly intense weather events, it pays to be prepared should the lights go out. That includes thinking about the food and drinks in your fridge.
Aside from making sure to unplug appliances before a storm hits, a robust fridge thermometer will indicate if yours is always at the right temperature and when it rises, should the power go off. If you need more cold storage space than your kitchen fridge provides, grab those coolers and turn them into mini fridges. Fill small plastic storage bags or tubs with water and freeze them all solid, then use them to pack out your cooler. If you've got access to dry ice, that'll work too.
If you're not one of those people who believes there's an order in which to store food in a fridge, when it comes to prepping for a power outage, there is. Removing any leftovers is a crucial step as it frees up valuable space. If you can't eat them or use them up, bag and label them, then put them in the freezer so they don't go to waste. Keep in mind which foods don't even need to be refrigerated (some might surprise you).
Keeping the food in your fridge cold when the power goes off
A full fridge will stay colder than one that's half full or less, so if you can get to the store and stock up a little before bad weather hits, it's worth it. Once you have all your items in your fridge, push them together as much as possible. Like penguins huddling for warmth, the contents of your fridge will help keep it cooler. If you've got any gaps, plug them with those frozen leftovers!
Should the worst happen and the electricity cuts off, it is vital the fridge door stays closed for as long as possible. Every time it's opened the cold air will pour out, cutting the time your food will stay fresh. Instead, plan what you need for the day ahead, and only open it once to get everything. To determine how quickly your freezer is warming up, put a coin on top of a frozen cup of water and gauge how fast it sinks.
When your electricity is restored, you need to check the time. Any fresh food stored in an unpowered fridge for more than 4 hours needs to go in the garbage — don't ever be tempted to taste it. Foods that thawed out in a cooler should also be thrown in the trash, but if they're still frozen, they should be safe to eat.