How long can food stay fresh or frozen in a fridge or freezer without power?

Your fridge and freezer are the tireless workhorses of your home appliances, toiling away 24/7 to keep your perishable food fresh or frozen. But what happens when they gasp their last cold breath or lose power? How long will the food inside remain safe to consume?

In this article, we will explore how long food can stay fresh or frozen in a fridge or freezer that has stopped working or lost power, and look at the range of factors that influence this duration.

Refrigerated perishable food inside a fridge that loses power will generally have a shorter lifespan than frozen food in an unpowered freezer, in part because frozen food starts at a lower temperature and its mass can act as a thermal buffer, insulating itself from the intrusion of warmer air.

In general, an unpowered fridge that remains closed can keep refrigerated food cold and at a safe temperature for about 4 to 6 hours.

An unpowered freezer can maintain its cold temperature and keep food frozen for approximately 24 to 48 hours.

However, these timeframes are estimates and the actual lifespan of food in a broken fridge or freezer will depend on various factors, such as:

The colder your appliances were running prior to breaking or losing power, the longer they should be able to keep their contents chilled or frozen. When you lose power, it’s important to keep the fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible, to contain the cold air.

Modern fridges and freezers have temperature controls that allow you to adjust the temperature within a certain range. The ideal temperature ranges for a fridge and freezer are:

Fridge: The recommended temperature for a refrigerator is between 1.7°C and 3.3°C. This temperature range helps to slow down the growth of bacteria while keeping perishable food items fresh and safe.

Freezer: The ideal temperature for a freezer is -18°C or below. At this temperature, food is frozen solid, preserving its quality and preventing the growth of bacteria and other pathogens.

In the usual way, when your fridge and freezer are working, you can check that they are operating at the optimal temperature by using an appliance thermometer. Place the thermometer in the middle of the refrigerator and freezer compartments and monitor the readings regularly to ensure they remain within the recommended ranges.

A properly functioning fridge or freezer can maintain the selected internal temperature when the room temperature is at a ‘normal’ level. If your appliance isn’t working, though, and the ambient temperature is particularly hot, things get a bit more tricky.

If, for example, a power outage during a heatwave also affected your air conditioning, the room temperature would rise considerably - in turn affecting the temperature within the unpowered appliance and increasing the risk of food spoiling.

When a fridge is broken, the length of time you can safely store food for can vary. Here's a general guide for how long these common items can remain safe in a broken fridge, but you should always check for any odd smells or visible signs of spoilage before consuming:

Raw meat: Raw meat, including chicken, beef, lamb, bacon and ham is highly perishable and can quickly become unsafe if not stored properly. In a broken fridge, raw meat should be cooked and consumed within 1 to 2 hours if the fridge temperature rises above 4°C.

Fish: Like raw meat, fish is highly perishable. It should be consumed within 1 to 2 hours if the fridge temperature rises above 4°C.

Milk: Milk is highly perishable and should be consumed within 1 to 2 hours if the fridge temperature rises above 4°C.

Hard cheeses: Hard cheeses such as tasty, cheddar, Parmesan, and Swiss can typically remain safe for about 4 to 6 hours at room temperature.

Soft cheeses: Soft cheeses like Brie, Camembert, and feta are more perishable than hard cheeses. They can stay safe for about 2 to 4 hours at room temperature.

Yogurts: Yogurts can typically remain safe for a few hours at room temperature. However, their quality may deteriorate, and they may separate or develop off flavours.

Baby formula: Prepared baby formula should be discarded after 2 hours at room temperature. For the baby’s safety, always follow strict guidelines for preparing and storing baby formula.

Fresh fruit and veggies: Fresh fruits and vegetables can typically last for at least a few hours without refrigeration. In colder climates, many will be fine left out of the fridge for days. However, some delicate produce like leafy greens or berries may spoil more quickly.

Fruit juice: Fruit juices should be discarded after 2 hours at room temperature to prevent the growth of bacteria. If the juice has been opened and left unrefrigerated for an extended period, it's best to play it safe and pour it away.

Things that are often kept in fridges but will be OK at room temperature include eggs, butter and margarine, as well as jams and condiments, ketchup and sauces, and peanut butter.

Remember, these are general guidelines, and it's always important to use your judgment. Look for any visible signs of spoilage, and trust your nose - if something doesn’t smell quite right, err on the side of caution and bin it.

A full freezer will retain its temperature better than a half-full freezer during a power outage or when the freezer stops working. The mass of the frozen items helps to maintain a stable temperature by providing insulation and reducing the amount of air circulation when the freezer door is closed. This slows down the rate at which the temperature rises inside the freezer.

Fridges work a little differently, though. The fridge’s primary function is to cool the items inside, but it doesn’t rely on them for insulation as much as a freezer does. In a refrigerator, it’s a good idea to keep it well stocked but not overly packed, to allow for proper air circulation.

In the event of a power outage or malfunctioning fridge or freezer, it’s important to understand how long food can remain fresh and safe to consume. If you’re dealing with more than a power outage though, and the time has come to replace your old fridge, chest freezer or upright freezer, Appliances Online has a huge range of styles and sizes to fit any home - and can get them to you when you need them.