# How long will my Refrigerator act like a cooler after the power goes out?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-my-refrigerator-act-like-a-cooler-after-the-power-goes-out/367406>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 5, 2006, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-my-refrigerator-act-like-a-cooler-after-the-power-goes-out/367406 "2006-08-05T00:13:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2006, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-my-refrigerator-act-like-a-cooler-after-the-power-goes-out/367406/1 "2006-08-05T00:13:14Z")

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In a severe storm if the power is cut off for a prolonged period of time, generally how long will the frig keep the perishables cool enough to be salvaged?  
Milk?  
Eggs?  
Chicken (frozen)?  
Cheese?  
Veggies?

Any ideas?

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**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2006, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-my-refrigerator-act-like-a-cooler-after-the-power-goes-out/367406/2 "2006-08-05T00:15:14Z")

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If your fridge is full, and you don’t open the door, you ought to be good for about 18 hours. Freezers last longer, of course, because they are filled with in effect ice.

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**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2006, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-my-refrigerator-act-like-a-cooler-after-the-power-goes-out/367406/3 "2006-08-05T00:16:32Z")

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> [@Phlosphr](#):
>
> In a severe storm if the power is cut off for a prolonged period of time, generally how long will the frig keep the perishables cool enough to be salvaged?  
> Milk?  
> Eggs?  
> Chicken (frozen)?  
> Cheese?  
> Veggies?
> 
> Any ideas?

Last year I kept my fridge closed for two days (I’ll conservatively estimate 36 hours) during a power outage and afterwards everything was fine. The milk even stayed good all the way to the expiration date later.

-Kris