Televisions, computer equipment, game consoles, fans, lights and all other smaller appliances should be unplugged, especially if they were in use when the power went out. Larger appliances, such as refrigerators, should not be unplugged.
There is no point in unplugging a refrigerator, since whether the power to the motor is interrupted by the thermostat, being unplugged locally, or the power being disconnected upstream makes no difference. Unplugging will only allow your food to warm up even more.
Unplug appliances with electronic components, such as microwaves, televisions and computers.
As the USDA notes in Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency, your refrigerator will keep food safe for up to 4 hours during a power outage. Keep the door closed as much as possible. Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers after 4 hours without power.
A short outage usually won't damage your refrigerator. However, long outages or power surges when the power is restored can lead to mechanical issues.
Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature. The refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will keep the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed.
Unplug appliances, electronics and equipment to avoid damage from electrical surges. Power may return with momentary “surges.” Use surge protection devices.
How long will milk/eggs last during a power outage? Milk, eggs, fish, meat and leftovers will last four hours in the refrigerator, as long as the door stays closed the entire time.
Unplug the fridge and test the socket with another device such as a lamp or charger to see if the issue is with the socket. If you use a surge protector or an extension cord this should also be checked. It is also possible there is an issue with the fuse, check your fuse box to see if the correct switches are on.
A well-insulated box or container can be filled with ice, and the items you wish to keep cold can be placed inside. The ice will slowly melt, absorbing heat and maintaining a cool temperature. Regularly replenishing the ice will ensure the longevity of this cooling method.
Unplugging Appliances: The most straightforward and effective defense against power surges is unplugging your appliances, particularly when anticipating stormy weather. This prevents surges from directly reaching and potentially damaging your devices.
Leave toaster ovens, coffee makers, food processors, blenders, air fryers, and stand mixers unplugged until it's time to use them. Leaving things like toaster ovens and air fryers unplugged also lowers the risk of fires.
Using Appliances During Power Outages
Never use a gas stovetop or oven to heat your home. Turn off or disconnect appliances, equipment, or electronics. Power may return with momentary surges or spikes that can cause damage.
Give Away Refrigerator Contents
Unplugging your refrigerator when you are leaving just for a week or 10 days is not a feasible proposition. However, if you are leaving for a month or two then you must consider unplugging your appliance.
Televisions, computer equipment, game consoles, fans, lights and all other smaller appliances should be unplugged, especially if they were in use when the power went out. Larger appliances, such as refrigerators, should not be unplugged.
Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, leftovers, and deli items after 4 hours without power or 2 hours after the temperature rises above 41 °F.
“The refrigerator will keep food safe for up to 4 hours. If the power is off longer, you can transfer food to a cooler and fill with ice or frozen gel packs. Make sure there is enough ice to keep food in the cooler at 40°F or below. Add more ice to the cooler as it begins to melt.” [10]
Prepare in Advance: Freeze containers of water, gel packs, or ice packs ahead of time. Placing these in the fridge and freezer can help maintain lower temperatures during a power outage. Keep Food Together: If you know a power outage is imminent, group refrigerated and frozen foods together.
Power outages often damage critical refrigerator components. Inspect the following: Compressors. Control boards.
Mixed food items, including cooked pasta, stews, casseroles, soups, potatoes, custards and puddings: Discard if held above 40°F for more than 2 hours. This category includes leftover foods.
Things like butter or margarine, fresh fruits that are uncut, fruit juices, peanut butter, ketchup and jelly are safe to eat after four hours without power. You can get a more detailed list of what refrigerated foods you should keep and what foods you should throw away by looking at the chart below.
Frozen juices with intact ice crystals or if held at 40ºF for less than 2 hours may be refrozen. Salad dressing, ketchup, mustard, olives, pickles, jams, jellies and peanut butter. May be kept unrefrigerated until power returns.
Depending on the amount of water remaining in the pipes, you might be able to flush your toilet several times while the power is out. Eventually, however, your tank won't fill up anymore because the pumps are down. When this happens, you will need to flush your toilet manually by pouring in a bucket of water.
How much electricity do appliances use when turned off? Some device may take just a small amount of energy but it's always wise to unplug, especially older inefficient products. The average amount of energy consumed by gadgets on standby or in a non-active state between 9% and 16% of a home's total energy bill.
Once a power outage occurs, the lines are void of electrical current. Upon restoration of power, the electrical current rushes to fill the “empty space” in the lines (known as an inrush). Electronics and appliances are not designed to handle such power-flow fluctuations, and can be damaged during such events.