Use these tables to determine whether to save food impacted by an emergency. Certain foods may still be okay after thawing or losing refrigeration. Others are no longer safe to eat and should be thrown away.
FOOD |
If more than 40ºF/5ºC for over 2 hours |
MEAT, POULTRY, SEAFOODRaw or leftover cooked meat, poultry, fish, or seafood; soy meat substitutes |
Discard |
|
Thawing meat or poultry |
Discard |
|
Meat, tuna, shrimp, chicken, or egg salad |
Discard |
|
Gravy, stuffing, broth |
Discard |
|
Lunchmeats, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, dried beef |
Discard |
|
Pizza – with any topping |
Discard |
|
Canned hams labeled “Keep Refrigerated” |
Discard |
|
Canned meats and fish, opened |
Discard |
CHEESESoft Cheeses: blue/bleu, Roquefort, Brie, Camembert, cottage, cream, Edam, Monterey Jack, ricotta, mozzarella, Muenster, Neufchatel, queso blanco, queso fresco |
Discard |
|
Hard Cheeses: Cheddar, Colby, Swiss, Parmesan, provolone, Romano |
Safe |
|
Processed Cheeses |
Safe |
|
Shredded Cheeses |
Discard |
|
Low-fat Cheeses |
Discard |
|
Grated Parmesan, Romano, or combination (in can or jar) |
Safe |
DAIRYMilk, cream, sour cream, buttermilk, evaporated milk, yogurt, eggnog, soy milk |
Discard |
|
Butter, margarine |
Safe |
|
Baby formula, opened |
Discard |
EGGSFresh eggs, hard-cooked in shell, egg dishes, egg products |
Discard |
|
Custards and puddings |
Discard |
CASSEROLES, SOUPS, STEWS |
Discard |
FRUITSFresh fruits, cut |
Discard |
|
Fruit juices, opened |
Safe |
|
Canned fruits, opened |
Safe |
|
Fresh fruits, coconut, raisins, dried fruits, candied fruits, dates |
Safe |
SAUCES, SPREADS, JAMSOpened mayonnaise, tartar sauce, horseradish |
Discard if above 50 °F for over 8 hrs. |
|
Peanut butter |
Safe |
|
Jelly, relish, taco sauce, mustard, catsup, olives, pickles |
Safe |
|
Worcestershire, soy, barbecue sauces, Hoisin sauce |
Safe |
|
Fish sauces (oyster sauce) |
Discard |
|
Opened vinegar-based dressings |
Safe |
|
Opened creamy-based dressings |
Discard |
|
Spaghetti sauce, opened jar |
Discard |
BREAD, CAKES, COOKIES, PASTA, GRAINSBread, rolls, cakes, muffins, quick breads, tortillas |
Safe |
|
Refrigerator biscuits, rolls, cookie dough |
Discard |
|
Cooked pasta, rice, potatoes |
Discard |
|
Pasta salads with mayonnaise or vinaigrette |
Discard |
|
Fresh pasta |
Discard |
|
Cheesecake |
Discard |
|
Breakfast foods –waffles, pancakes, bagels |
Safe |
PIES, PASTRYPastries, cream filled |
Discard |
|
Pies – custard, cheese filled, or chiffon; quiche |
Discard |
|
Pies, fruit |
Safe |
VEGETABLESFresh mushrooms, herbs, spices |
Safe |
|
Greens, pre-cut, pre-washed, packaged |
Discard |
|
Vegetables, raw |
Safe |
|
Vegetables, cooked; tofu |
Discard |
|
Vegetable juice, opened |
Discard |
|
Baked potatoes |
Discard |
|
Commercial garlic in oil |
Discard |
|
Potato Salad |
Discard |
FOOD |
Still contains ice crystals and feels as cold as if refrigerated |
Thawed. If more than 40ºF/5ºC for over 2 hours |
MEAT, POULTRY, SEAFOODBeef, veal, lamb, pork, and ground meat |
Refreeze |
Discard |
|
Poultry and ground poultry |
Refreeze |
Discard |
|
Variety meats (liver, kidney, heart, chitterlings) |
Refreeze |
Discard |
|
Casseroles, stews, soups |
Refreeze |
Discard |
|
Fish, shellfish, breaded seafood products |
Refreeze. However, there will be some texture and flavor loss. |
Discard |
DAIRYMilk |
Refreeze. May lose some texture. |
Discard |
|
Eggs (out of shell) and egg products |
Refreeze |
Discard |
|
Ice cream, frozen yogurt |
Discard |
Discard |
|
Cheese (soft and semi-soft) |
Refreeze. May lose some texture. |
Discard |
|
Hard cheeses |
Refreeze |
Refreeze |
|
Shredded cheeses |
Refreeze |
Discard |
|
Casseroles containing milk, cream, eggs, soft cheeses |
Refreeze |
Discard |
|
Cheesecake |
Refreeze |
Discard |
FRUITSJuices |
Refreeze |
Refreeze. Discard if mold, yeasty smell, or sliminess develops. |
|
Home or commercially packaged |
Refreeze. Will change texture and flavor. |
Refreeze. Discard if mold, yeasty smell, or sliminess develops. |
VEGETABLESJuices |
Refreeze |
Discard after held above 40ºF for 6 hours. |
|
Home or commercially packaged or blanched |
Refreeze. May suffer texture and flavor loss. |
Discard after held above 40ºF for 6 hours. |
BREADS, PASTRIESBreads, rolls, muffins, cakes (without custard fillings) |
Refreeze |
Refreeze |
|
Cakes, pies, pastries with custard or cheese filling |
Refreeze |
Discard |
|
Pie crusts, commercial and homemade bread dough |
Refreeze. Some quality loss can occur. |
Refreeze. Quality loss is considerable. |
OTHERCasseroles – pasta, rice based |
Refreeze |
Discard |
|
Flour, cornmeal, nuts |
Refreeze |
Refreeze |
|
Breakfast items –waffles, pancakes, bagels |
Refreeze |
Refreeze |
|
Frozen meal, entree, specialty items (pizza, sausage and biscuit, meat pie,convenience foods) |
Refreeze |
Discard |