Foods stay frozen longer if the freezer remains unopened, is full, is in a cool place and is well insulated. Usually food in a loaded freezer will stay frozen for two to four days, depending on its size. A half-filled freezer will keep food frozen only about 24 hours.
http://uga.edu/nchfp/questions/FAQ_freezing.html
Power Outage Food Safety: What To Toss And What To Keep. With the East Coast bracing for the wrath of Hurricane Sandy, an estimated eight to 10 million people are expected to lose power.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/29/power-outage-food-safety-hurricane-sandy_n_2039351.html
If standard canning jars (those with narrow mouths) are used, leave extra headspace in liquid packs (3/4-inch for pints; 11/2-inches for quarts) to allow for expansion of food during freezing and completely thaw food before removing it.
http://uga.edu/nchfp/questions/FAQ_freezing.html
Foods can be refrozen if at least one ot these two conditions are met: 1) Foods have only partially thawed and still have ice crystals in the package; 2) The freezer temperature has remained at 40°F or below. Before using, check to see that color and odor of the food are good. Quality of the food will be lower.
http://uga.edu/nchfp/questions/FAQ_freezing.html
The refrigerator: how long will foods remain safe without power? · All foods: at least 4 hours, if the fridge is left unopened. · Discard after 4 hours without power: Meat, poultry, fish, milk, eggs, cooked leftovers, soft cheeses, deli cold cuts/salads and other perishable foods.
http://stilltasty.com/articles/view/27
According to FoodSafety.gov, the most important thing is to keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. If they stay sealed, your fridge can keep food cold for about four hours, and a full freezer for about 48 hours (24 hours if it's half full).
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/29/power-outage-food-safety-hurricane-sandy_n_2039351.html
Refrigerator-freezer combinations can be used for storing frozen food if the freezer is a true freezer (will maintain 0°F or less) and not just a freezing compartment. A better quality product will be maintained at 0°F or less. If a freezing compartment is used, store food for only one to two weeks.
http://uga.edu/nchfp/questions/FAQ_freezing.html
Yes — but only if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40° F or below. If that’s not the case, throw it out. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service Web site.
http://stilltasty.com/articles/view/27
We put together some of the information from their chart on what to save and what to throw out from your refrigerator. Click over to them for the full list, and for the list of what to keep and what to toss from your freezer. What To Keep (And What To Toss) After A Power Outage.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/29/power-outage-food-safety-hurricane-sandy_n_2039351.html
It is important to keep our food safe when the power goes out to prevent our food from spoiling, which can put us at higher risk for food borne illness, Toby Smithson, RD, founder of DiabetesEveryDay.com and a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, tells HuffPost in an email.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/29/power-outage-food-safety-hurricane-sandy_n_2039351.html
when power goes out how long before everything in fridge spoils
When power goes out, everything in fridge spoils at least after 4 hours. Everything in the fridge spoils in 4 hours when power goes out.