United Kingdom
Follow the FSA consumer advice published on GOV.UK (England, Wales and Northern Ireland): keep fridge and freezer doors closed and check its current guidance on what to keep or discard. Use appliance temperatures rather than elapsed time alone.
United States
US federal guidance (USDA and FDA) gives its own refrigerator and freezer timings and temperature thresholds. Use the US source pages directly; these US rules are not combined with UK FSA advice.
Practical steps
- Note when the power went out; keep fridge and freezer doors closed.
- Use appliance thermometers if available and follow local official thresholds.
- Never taste food to check safety. Smell and appearance cannot confirm it is safe.
- Once opened, shelf-stable products may need refrigeration; follow the label.
- Without reliable chilling, open only the amount you can use promptly.
Do not combine different national temperature thresholds into one universal rule. For recipe-specific allergen and storage prompts, see each recipe page. Local emergency instructions take priority.
Official sources
UK Be Ready household checklist ↗UK campaign announcement ↗US emergency supplies — Ready.gov ↗US emergency food — USDA FSIS ↗US emergency water — CDC ↗EU preparedness strategy ↗UK FSA (GOV.UK): food safety in a power cut ↗FDA: food and water safety during power outages ↗CDC: drinking-water advisories explained ↗Source links and principal guidance claims checked 2 November 2026. Consult current local advice. The Blackout Kitchen is independent and is not endorsed by these organisations.