If the power goes out, focus on food that is safe without refrigeration, doesn’t need cooking, and uses up what will spoil first.

First priorities in the first hours

  • Eat from the fridge first : sandwiches with deli meat, cheese, cut fruit, cooked leftovers, boiled eggs, yogurt, etc., as long as the power has been out under about 4 hours and the door stayed closed.
  • Move high‑value items (meat, milk, leftovers) to a cooler with ice if the outage looks like it will last all day.
  • Keep the fridge and freezer closed as much as possible to stretch how long food stays cold and safe.

No‑cook, shelf‑stable foods to eat

These work for “what to eat if power goes out” and can live in a basic emergency pantry:

  • Canned foods (ready to eat):
    • Canned beans, chili, stew, soups, lentils.
* Canned tuna, chicken, salmon, sardines, or other meats.

* Canned fruits and veggies (ideally in juice or water, not heavy syrup).
  • Dry and snack foods:
    • Granola bars, protein bars, cereal, instant oatmeal (eat dry or with shelf‑stable milk or water).
* Crackers, rice cakes, tortilla chips, pretzels, popcorn (pre‑popped), potato chips.

* Nuts, seeds, trail mix, jerky, hard or packaged sausages.
  • Spreads and basics:
    • Peanut butter or other nut butters with crackers, bread, tortillas, or fruit.
* Shelf‑stable milks (UHT cow’s milk, soy, almond, oat, rice) and nonfat dry milk.
  • Easy morale boosters:
    • Chocolate, cookies, candies, breakfast pastries, packaged baked goods.

Simple “meals” you can throw together

  • Peanut butter and jelly (or peanut butter and banana) sandwiches on bread or tortillas.
  • Tuna (or chicken) and crackers with canned veggies or fruit on the side.
  • Cold canned chili, stew, or pasta straight from the can if you truly cannot heat anything.
  • Bean salad: mix canned beans, canned corn, canned tomatoes or peppers with oil, vinegar, and any spices you have.
  • Cereal with shelf‑stable milk or reconstituted powdered milk.

If you can heat food safely

If you have a gas stove, grill, camp stove, or woodstove you can use with good ventilation and proper safety , you get more options. Never cook over open flames indoors (candles, grills) because of fire and carbon monoxide risk.

  • Heat canned soups, stews, chili, beans, or pasta in a pot.
  • Make ramen or instant noodles using boiled water (use less seasoning to keep sodium down).
  • Cook rice, pasta, or instant potatoes to pair with canned meats and vegetables.

What to avoid or be careful with

  • Toss high‑risk foods that have been warm for several hours: raw meat, fish, soft cheeses, dairy, cooked rice, mayo‑based salads.
  • Avoid foods that must stay cold once opened (some dairy, meat, certain sauces) if you can’t keep them chilled.
  • Do not try to “cook” with candles or improvised indoor fires; the smoke and soot contaminate food and the fumes can be dangerous.

Mini checklist to prep ahead (for next time the power goes out):

  • 2–3 days of canned meals and beans.
  • Box of granola bars, nuts, and jerky.
  • Peanut butter, crackers, cereal, and shelf‑stable milk.
  • Manual can opener and plenty of drinking water.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.