Comments on: Food safety during power outage

Question: Food safety during power outage

John Cohen — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:12:03 -0800

Can I eat this? Sandy power outage edition.

My power has been out for almost 48 hours. I'm assuming all processed foods in the fridge have to be thrown out, but I hesitate with a couple items because they feel somewhat cold through the plastic, look fine, and haven't been opened. I'm wondering about store-bought hummus (includes red peppers, chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, etc.) and fake turkey slices (Tofurkey brand). I've been avoiding opening the fridge door more than absolutely necessary (so as not to let warm air in — although there's no heat in my apartment anyway). The fridge is stuffed almost completely full, which is supposed to keep things colder. The foods are well within the expiration dates on the labels. Again, by default, I would throw out any processed food that's been in a nonworking fridge for 48 or even 24 hours, but I just wanted to check. Thanks in advance.

By: Mai2k3

Mai2k3 — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:15:42 -0800

Hummus goes bad very quickly, I wouldn't touch it. Also sliced tofu has a lot of surface area for germs to grow on. In any case I would cook it thoroughly first.

By: foodgeek

foodgeek — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:17:31 -0800

I'd eat the hummus without a second thought, the fake turkey slices I wouldn't eat even if the fridge were working properly :-)

By: holgate

holgate — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:19:44 -0800

I'd eat them both.

By: John Cohen

John Cohen — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:23:09 -0800

Mai2k3: I can't cook anything, my power is out.

foodgeek: I'm asking if it's safe for me to eat, not if you would like to eat it.

By: LittleMy

LittleMy — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:26:09 -0800

Do you have a meat thermometer? Just check the temperature of the item -- if it is warmer than 40F, throw it out. Why add food poisoning to your misery!

By: Kruger5

Kruger5 — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:36:11 -0800

You can do a Reliable sniff test on the hummus. It usually holds its ground in cool temps.

As for the tofu turkey, I wouldn't eat it regardless of Sandy! That stuff is loaded with bad things.

By: Kololo

Kololo — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:39:13 -0800

Processed food is actually more likely to fine (compared to non-processed food) because it's generally pumped full o' preservatives.

For the fake turkey, eat it if it smells bad. (That's a good general rule.) Go ahead and eat the hummus, it's chickpeas and garlic and tahini and oil, and none of those things spoil easily.

Always: SMELL IT. Then decide.

By: Johnny Wallflower

Johnny Wallflower — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:48:18 -0800

Hummus is fine. If the Tofurky has not been opened previously I would eat it. It's vegetable matter, and doesn't spoil as quickly as meat.

By: jenfullmoon

jenfullmoon — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:53:40 -0800

Lifehacker has already covered this for you.

By: maudlin

maudlin — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:54:06 -0800

According to this site, if the hummus was opened, it should probably be tossed. If it seems obviously bad in appearance or smell, toss it. If it isn't pasteurized or if it lacks preservatives, it's probably risky.

Your package is unopened, so if it smells OK after you open it, the deciding factor might be pasteurization: if it's been Louised, go for it; if not, maybe hunt down a can of garbazno beans and some lemon juice.

They have a general what-food-is-safe after a storm page here, too.

By: John Cohen

John Cohen — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:14:14 -0800

Again, both items are unopened. However, the hummus does say "no preservatives."

By: xo

xo — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:33:11 -0800

We have a thermometer for the inside of our fridge because of meds we keep in there. Power went out at 8:30ish for us. At 10:30, I noted that the fridge was 40 degrees and the freezer was 4. At 8:30 Tuesday morning, without having opened either one, the fridge was at 50 and the freezer was 20. Thus, I wouldn't eat it, because of how quickly our stuff warmed above safe temps without even opening the door.

By: hobo gitano de queretaro

hobo gitano de queretaro — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:38:01 -0800

No preservatives means that no carcinogenic chemicals were added to this specifically to kill bacteria.

Which is not the same thing as saying nothing in this will prevent the growth of bacteria. Salt, lemon juice and sufficient quantities of pepper can have a significant preservative effect.

Then again my threshold for eating stuff is substantially lower than most people after years of living in third world countries and I don't mind a little mild diarrhea. The odds of an actual pathological variety of bacteria living in your hummus are just astronomically low.

By: grapesaresour

grapesaresour — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:00:11 -0800

I would smell test the hummus and if it passed try a small amount.

The Tofurkey slices I would totally eat. I've accidentally left those out (unopened) on the counter all night and they've been fine. So I suspect a fairly cool environment has kept them fine.