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ABCD’s of Keeping Food Safe in an Emergency
ABCD's of Keeping Food Safe
Frequently Asked Questions
What to Save and What to Throw Out
Refrigerator Foods
Frozen Foods
REFRIGERATOR FOODS
What to Save and
What to Throw Out
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FOOD |
Held above 40˚ F for over 2 hours
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MEAT, POULTRY, SEAFOOD
Fresh or leftover meat, poultry, fish or seafood
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Discard |
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Thawing meat or poultry |
Discard |
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Meat, tuna, shrimp, chicken or egg salad |
Discard |
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Gravy, stuffing |
Discard |
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Lunchmeats, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, dried beef
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Discard |
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Pizza – with any topping |
Discard |
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Canned hams labeled “keep refrigerated” |
Discard |
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Canned meats, opened |
Discard |
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CHEESES
Soft cheeses: blue/bleu, Roquefort, Brie, Camembert,
cottage, cream, Edam, Monterey Jack, ricotta, mozzarella, Muenster,
Neufchatel |
Discard |
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Hard cheeses: Cheddar, Colby, Swiss, Parmesan,
provolone, Romano |
Safe |
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Processed Cheeses |
Safe |
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Shredded Cheeses |
Discard |
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Low-fat Cheeses |
Discard |
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Grated Parmesan, Romano, or combination (in can or jar)
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Safe |
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DAIRY
Milk, cream, sour cream, buttermilk, evaporated milk,
yogurt |
Discard |
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Butter, margarine |
Safe |
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Baby formula, opened |
Discard |
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EGGS
Fresh eggs, hard-cooked in shell, egg dishes, egg products
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Discard |
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Custards and puddings |
Discard |
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CASSEROLES, SOUPS, STEWS
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Discard |
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FRUITS
Fresh fruits, cut |
Discard |
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Fruit juices, opened |
Safe |
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Canned fruits, opened |
Safe |
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Fresh fruits, coconut, raisins, dried fruits, candied
fruits, dates |
Safe |
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SAUCES,
SPREADS, JAMS
Opened mayonnaise, tartar sauce, horseradish
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Discard if above 50˚ F for over 8 hours
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Peanut butter |
Safe |
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Jelly; relish; taco, barbecue and soy sauce; mustard;
catsup; olives |
Safe |
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Worcestershire sauce |
Discard |
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Fish sauces (oyster sauce) |
Discard |
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Hoisin sauce |
Discard |
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Opened vinegar-based dressings |
Safe |
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Opened creamy-based dressings |
Discard |
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Spaghetti sauce, opened jar |
Discard |
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BREAD, CAKES, COOKIES, PASTA
Bread, rolls, cakes, muffins, quick breads
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Safe |
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Refrigerator biscuits, rolls, cookie dough
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Discard |
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Cooked pasta, spaghetti |
Discard |
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Pasta salads with mayonnaise or vinaigrette
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Discard |
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Fresh pasta |
Discard |
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Cheesecake |
Discard |
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Breakfast foods – waffles, pancakes, bagels
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Safe |
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PIES, PASTRY
Pastries, cream filled |
Discard |
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Pies – custard, cheese filled or chiffon |
Discard |
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Pies, fruit |
Safe |
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VEGETABLES
Fresh mushrooms, herbs, spices |
Safe |
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Greens, pre-cut, pre-washed, packaged |
Discard |
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Vegetables, raw |
Safe |
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Vegetables, cooked |
Discard |
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Vegetable juice, opened |
Discard |
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Baked potatoes |
Discard |
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Commercial garlic in oil |
Discard |
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Potato salad |
Discard |
FROZEN FOOD
What to Save and
What to Throw Out
|
FOOD |
Still contains ice crystals and feels as cold as if
refrigerated |
Thawed. Held above 40˚ F for over 2 hours
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MEAT, POULTRY, SEAFOOD
Beef, veal, lamb, pork and ground meats |
Refreeze |
Discard |
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Poultry and ground poultry |
Refreeze |
Discard |
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Variety meats (liver, kidney, heart, chitterlings)
|
Refreeze |
Discard |
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Casseroles, stews, soups |
Refreeze |
Discard |
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Fish, shellfish, breaded seafood products
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Refreeze. However, there will be some texture and
flavor loss. |
Discard |
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DAIRY
Milk |
Refreeze. May lose some texture |
Discard |
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Eggs (out of shell) and egg products |
Refreeze |
Discard |
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Ice cream, frozen yogurt |
Discard |
Discard |
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Cheese (soft and semi-soft) |
Refreeze. May lose some texture |
Discard |
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Hard cheeses |
Refreeze |
Refreeze |
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Shredded cheeses |
Refreeze |
Discard |
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Casseroles containing milk, cream, eggs, soft cheeses
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Refreeze |
Discard |
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Cheesecake |
Refreeze |
Discard |
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FRUITS
Juices |
Refreeze |
Refreeze. Discard if mold, yeasty smell, or sliminess
develops |
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Home or commercially packaged |
Refreeze. Will change texture and flavor
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Refreeze. Discard if mold, yeasty smell, or sliminess
develops. |
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VEGETABLES
Juices |
Refreeze |
Discard after held above 40˚ F for 6 hours.
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Home or commercially packaged or blanched
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Refreeze. May suffer texture and flavor loss.
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Discard after held above 40˚ F for 6 hours.
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BREADS, PASTRIES
Breads, rolls, muffins, cakes (without custard fillings)
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Refreeze |
Refreeze |
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Cakes, pies, pastries with custard or cheese filling
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Refreeze |
Discard |
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Pie crusts, commercial and homemade bread dough
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Refreeze. Some quality loss may occur.
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Refreeze. Quality loss is considerable.
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OTHER
Casseroles – pasta, rice based |
Refreeze |
Discard |
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Flour, cornmeal, nuts |
Refreeze |
Refreeze |
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Breakfast items – waffles, pancakes, bagels
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Refreeze |
Refreeze |
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Frozen meal, entrée, specialty items (pizza, sausage and
biscuit, meat pie, convenience foods) |
Refreeze |
Discard |
content last updated: June 14, 2006
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Last updated: July 28, 2011
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Houston, TX 77027
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