All guides

• How long will food last in a fridge or freezer without power?

  Food in a closed fridge stays safe for about 4 hours without power (USDA, UK Food Standards Agency). A full freezer holds about 48 hours, a half-full one 24. If a thermometer shows the fridge at or below 40°F (4°C), keep the food; if it was warmer for over 4 hours, throw out perishables.

• Power outage emergency kit: what to pack for your household

  A power outage emergency kit is the water, food, light, radio and phone power that carry a household through at least 3 days. Water is the number that varies: 3 litres per person per day in the UK, about 4 litres in Canada, 1 gallon in the US. Multiply by people and days, then cross off what you already own.