How long will your fridge keep food safe?
Start the countdown when the power goes out. The clocks follow USDA guidance for a closed fridge and freezer, and keep running if you close the page.
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Refrigerator, door closed
USDA: about 4 hours. After that, toss perishables that sat above 40 °F for over 2 hours.
Freezer, full, door closed
USDA: about 48 hours. Food with ice crystals or at 40 °F or below can be refrozen.
Or keep the fridge running
About 1 kWh a day plus inverter losses. The station also needs to start the compressor (about 2,900 W for a moment): check yours.
What the timers mean
These are the U.S. Department of Agriculture's rules of thumb, published on FoodSafety.gov. They assume the doors stay closed. Every opening lets cold air out, so open them only to take something you need, quickly. An appliance thermometer settles any doubt: 40 °F or below in the fridge, 0 °F in the freezer.
When in doubt, throw it out. Never taste food to check whether it's safe.
Questions people ask
How long does a refrigerator keep food cold without power?
About 4 hours if the door stays closed, according to USDA guidance on FoodSafety.gov. After that, perishable food (meat, poultry, fish, eggs, leftovers, milk) that has been above 40 °F for more than 2 hours should be thrown out.
How long does a freezer last without power?
A full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours, a half-full one for about 24 hours, with the door closed. Food that still has ice crystals or reads 40 °F or below can be safely refrozen.
How big a battery keeps a fridge running?
An ENERGY STAR refrigerator uses about 1 kWh a day, so roughly 1.2 kWh of battery per day once inverter losses are included, from a station that can also start the compressor.