What to keep, what to toss from fridge after power outage

Published:
Photo via Flickr

FORT MYERS, Fla. Toss that milk, and throw out those eggs.

But the peanut butter and orange juice might be OK.

All foods weren’t created equal, and some of them can survive in a refrigerator during the prolonged power outages Southwest Florida is dealing with after Hurricane Irma.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture created an infographic detailing foods that can survive and those that can’t. The department also published an online reference called “A Consumer’s Guide to Food Safety,” available online.

Sometimes it depends on what you did with the food before it went in the refrigerator. Sliced produce should be thrown out, but uncut vegetables are usually all right to keep, according to the USDA.

But even opened orange juice and canned fruits could be safe, the USDA said.

Regardless, the USDA warns against tasting any food to determine whether it’s still good, and urges consumers to go by the motto, “When in doubt, throw it out.”

The USDA’s infographic is below:

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.