Damage to freezer food after a power outage [duplicate]

My freezer went without power for 70 hours while we were out of town. The power was restored before we returned and refroze everything. The unit was full and did have some solid ice packs within. Is anything safe to consume in this freezer?

freezing

Best Answer

If this was an upright freezer with cooling coils in the shelves, there was frost on the shelves before your trip, and after you came back there was still frost on the shelves, then you can intuit that things never got above freezing. Otherwise, there's almost nothing you could be sure of, except perhaps by pulling the plug, waiting 70 hours, and then testing the temperature.

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Can you refreeze meat after a power outage?

You can safely refreeze or cook thawed frozen food that still contains ice crystals or is at 40 \xb0F or below.

Can food be refrozen after power failure?

Frozen Food and Power Outages: When to Save It and When to Throw It Out. A full freezer will hold a safe temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full and the door remains closed). Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40\xb0F or below, however, its quality may suffer ...

What foods are safe to refreeze after power outage?

If the food still contains ice crystals or is 40\xb0 F or below, it is safe to refreeze or cook. If the power was out for no more than 4 hours, refrigerated food should be safe as long as the doors were kept closed.

How long does it take for food to spoil in freezer without power?

Perishable items should remain safe in your refrigerator for four hours, in a half-full freezer for 24 hours and in a full freezer for 48 hours, but these guidelines are estimates.

Back Up Power: How to Protect the Food in Your Freezer During a Power Outage

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