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Picking Up the Pieces After a Power Outage
Guidelines For Dealing With Refrigerated and Frozen Foods
FROZEN FOODS:
When to Save and When to Throw Out
Printable (pdf) Frozen Food Guidelines
Meat, Poultry and Seafood
|
Type of Product
|
Food still cold, held at 40º F or above under 2 hours
|
Held above 40º F for over 2 hours
|
|
Beef, veal, lamb, pork, ground meats
|
Refreeze
|
Discard
|
|
Poultry, ground poultry
|
Refreeze
|
Discard
|
|
Variety meats (liver, kidney, heart, chitterlings)
|
Refreeze
|
Discard
|
|
Casseroles, stews, soups, convenience foods, pizza
|
Refreeze
|
Discard
|
|
Fish, shellfish, breaded seafood products
|
Refreeze
|
Discard
|
Dairy, Eggs, Cheese
|
Type of Product
|
Food still cold, held at 40º F or above under 2 hours
|
Held above 40º F for over 2 hours
|
|
Milk
|
Refreeze
|
Discard
|
|
Eggs, (out of shells), egg products
|
Refreeze
|
Discard
|
|
Ice cream, frozen yogurt
|
Discard
|
Discard
|
|
Hard cheeses (Cheddar, Swiss, Parmesan)
|
Refreeze
|
Refreeze
|
|
Casseroles containing milk, cream, eggs, soft cheeses
|
Refreeze
|
Discard
|
|
Cheesecake
|
Refreeze
|
Discard
|
Fruits
|
Type of Product
|
Food still cold, held at 40º F or above under 2 hours
|
Held above 40º F for over 2 hours
|
|
Juices
|
Refreeze
|
Refreeze (discard if mold, yeasty smell, or sliminess develops)
|
|
Home or commercial packaged
|
Refreeze
|
Refreeze (discard if mold, yeasty smell, or sliminess develops)
|
Vegetables
|
Type of Product
|
Food still cold, held at 40º F or above under 2 hours
|
Held above 40º F for over 2 hours
|
|
Juices
|
Refreeze
|
Discard if above 40 º F for over 6 hours
|
|
Home or commercially packaged, blanched
|
Refreeze (may suffer flavor and texture loss)
|
Discard if above 40 º F for over 6 hours
|
Breads, Pastries
|
Type of Product
|
Food still cold, held at 40º F or above under 2 hours
|
Held above 40º F for over 2 hours
|
|
Breads, rolls, muffins, cakes (without custard filling)
|
Refreeze
|
Refreeze
|
|
Cakes, pies, pastries with custard or cheese fillings
|
Refreeze
|
Discard
|
|
Pie crusts
|
Refreeze
|
Refreeze
|
|
Commercial and homemade bread dough
|
Refreeze (may suffer some quality loss)
|
Refreeze (will suffer considerable quality loss)
|
Other Foods
|
Type of Product
|
Food still cold, held at 40º F or above under 2 hours
|
Held above 40º F for over 2 hours
|
|
Casseroles – pasta; rice-based
|
Refreeze
|
Discard
|
|
Flour, cornmeal, nuts
|
Refreeze
|
Refreeze
|
REFRIGERATED FOODS:
When to Save and When to Throw Out
Printable (pdf) Refrigerated Foods Guidelines
Meat, Poultry and Seafood
|
Type of Product
|
Food still cold, held at 40º F or above under 2 hours
|
Held above 40º F for over 2 hours
|
|
Fresh or leftover meat, poultry, fish, seafood
|
Safe
|
Discard
|
|
Thawing meat or poultry
|
Safe
|
Discard if warmer than refrigerator temperatures
|
|
Meat, tuna, shrimp, chicken, egg salad,
|
Safe
|
Discard
|
|
Gravy, stuffing
|
Safe
|
Discard
|
|
Lunch meats, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, dried beef
|
Safe
|
Discard
|
|
Pizza - with any topping
|
Safe
|
Discard
|
|
Canned meats (not labeled “Keep Refrigerated”) – refrigerated after opening
|
Safe
|
Discard
|
|
Canned hams labeled “Keep Refrigerated”
|
Safe
|
Discard
|
|
Casseroles, soups, stews
|
Safe
|
Discard
|
Dairy, Eggs, Cheese
|
Type of Product
|
Food still cold, held at 40º F or above under 2 hours
|
Held above 40º F for over 2 hours
|
|
Milk, cream, sour cream, buttermilk, evaporated milk, yogurt
|
Safe
|
Discard
|
|
Butter, margarine
|
Safe
|
Safe
|
|
Baby formula – opened
|
Safe
|
Discard
|
|
Eggs-fresh, hard cooked in shell
|
Safe
|
Discard
|
|
Eggs dishes, custard puddings
|
Safe
|
Discard
|
|
Hard cheeses, processed cheeses
(Cheddar, Swiss, Parmesan) Grated and Shredded
|
Safe
|
Safe
|
|
Soft cheeses, cottage cheese
|
Safe
|
Discard
|
Fruits
|
Type of Product
|
Food still cold, held at 40º F or above under 2 hours
|
Held above 40º F for over 2 hours
|
|
Juices - opened
|
Safe
|
Safe
|
|
Canned - opened
|
Safe
|
Safe
|
|
Whole fruits, coconut, raisins, dried fruits, candied fruits, dates
|
Safe
|
Safe
|
| Cut/Chopped Fruits |
Safe |
Discard |
Vegetables
|
Type of Product
|
Food still cold, held at 40º F or above under 2 hours
|
Held above 40º F for over 2 hours
|
|
Cooked, juice – opened
|
Safe
|
Discard after 6 hours
|
|
Baked potatoes
|
Safe
|
Discard
|
|
Fresh mushrooms, herbs, spices
|
Safe
|
Safe
|
|
Garlic – chopped in oil or butter
|
Safe
|
Discard
|
| Raw Vegetables |
Safe |
Safe |
Pies, Pastries
|
Type of Product
|
Food still cold, held at 40º F or above under 2 hours
|
Held above 40º F for over 2 hours
|
|
Pastries – cream filled
|
Safe
|
Discard
|
|
Pies – custard, cheese filled, chiffons
|
Safe
|
Discard
|
|
Pies – fruit
|
Safe
|
Safe
|
Bread, Cakes, Cookies, Pasta
|
Type of Product
|
Food still cold, held at 40º F or above under 2 hours
|
Held above 40º F for over 2 hours
|
|
Bread, Rolls, Cakes, muffins, quick breads
|
Safe
|
Safe
|
|
Refrigerator biscuits, rolls, cookie dough
|
Safe
|
Discard
|
|
Cooked pasta, rice, potatoes
|
Safe
|
Discard
|
|
Pasta salads with mayonnaise or vinegar base
|
Safe
|
Discard
|
Sauces, Spreads, Jams
|
Type of Product
|
Food still cold, held at 40º F or above under 2 hours
|
Held above 40º F for over 2 hours
|
|
Mayonnaise, tartar sauces
|
Safe
|
Discard if above 50º F for over 8 hours
|
|
Peanut butter
|
Safe
|
Safe
|
|
Opened salad dressing, vinegar, jelly, relish, taco & barbeque sauce, mustard, ketchup, olives
|
Safe
|
Safe
|
| Creamy based dressing |
Safe |
Discard |
| Fish Sauce |
Safe |
Discard |
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service Food News for Consumers.