Power-outage food safety
Is Cooked Rice Safe After a Power Outage?
The short answer
Discard cooked rice after more than 2 hours above 40°F.
Official decision table
| Food or condition | Action or period | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Cooked rice | Discard | After more than 2 hours above 40°F |
| Dry uncooked rice | Keep | Shelf-stable if dry and uncontaminated |
How to make the decision
Never taste food to decide whether it is safe after an outage. Time, measured temperature, ice crystals, and the official item chart control the decision.
When a package provides stricter storage or discard instructions, use the package. People at higher risk from foodborne illness should be especially conservative with refrigerated perishables.
What to do now
- Record how long the refrigerator, freezer, or package was outside its intended temperature range.
- Use a food or appliance thermometer when a temperature reading is available.
- Apply the exact row above instead of relying on smell, appearance, or a taste test.
- When the time or temperature is unknown, choose the safer action.
Check the underlying storage record
Use the complete FoodKeeper database for normal pantry, refrigerator, freezer, after-opening, and after-thawing periods.
Primary source
FoodSafety.gov Food Safety During a Power Outage. ShelfDate has reorganized the applicable rows for readability without replacing the official decision criteria.