Article
When a fridge or freezer quits, the first question is about food. How long is it safe? What can you keep? This guide follows USDA food safety guidance and explains each step in plain words.
Once food is safe, call (972) 449-9527. We offer emergency and same-day refrigerator and freezer repair, 24 hours a day, in The Colony, TX.
Quick answer
- Keep doors closed. A fridge holds cold for about four hours.
- A full freezer stays frozen about 48 hours. A half-full one about 24 hours.
- Throw away perishable food that has been above 40 degrees for two hours or more.
Act fast, keep doors shut
Do not open the doors more than you must. A closed fridge stays cold for about four hours. A full freezer stays frozen for about 48 hours, and a half-full one for about 24 hours.
Use a thermometer
A food thermometer gives the real answer. Food that stayed at 40 degrees or below is fine. Never taste food to test it.
Move food if you can
- Put milk, meat and leftovers in a cooler with ice.
- Move frozen food to a working freezer or a cooler.
- Dry ice can help, but handle it with gloves and keep the room ventilated.
What to throw away
USDA guidance says to discard perishable food, such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs and leftovers, that has been above 40 degrees for two hours or more.
- Raw meat, poultry and fish
- Cooked leftovers
- Milk and soft cheese
- Eggs and egg dishes
- Cut fruit and salads
What is often fine
- Hard cheeses
- Butter
- Whole fresh fruit and most whole vegetables
- Peanut butter, jelly and mustard
Why 40 degrees matters
Harmful bacteria grow faster as food warms up. The safe limit for cold food is 40 degrees or below. Once perishable food stays above that for too long, it can make you sick, even if it looks and smells fine.
Plan ahead for failures and outages
- Keep an appliance thermometer in the fridge and freezer.
- Keep a few ice packs in the freezer.
- Know where you can buy ice nearby.
- Keep a cooler handy.
Special items
- Baby formula and breast milk: follow the label and ask your doctor.
- Medicine like insulin: check the label and ask your pharmacist.
- Leftover meals: throw out if unsure.
After the repair
Wait for the fridge to cool to 40 degrees before you restock it. Wipe the shelves and check the seals. Our garage fridge guide and maintenance service help you avoid a repeat.
A simple step-by-step plan
- Keep the doors shut.
- Check the temperature with a thermometer.
- Move perishable food into a cooler with ice.
- Sort food into keep and throw away piles.
- Call for repair as soon as you can.
- Restock only after the fridge is cold again.
What a technician needs to know
When you call, tell us how long the fridge has been warm, what the temperature is and whether the freezer is cold. These clues help us find the cause faster and plan the right parts.
When in doubt, throw it out
Food poisoning is not worth the risk. After the repair, our tips in the fridge not cooling checklist can help you prevent a repeat.
Need help now?
Do not let food spoil. Call us for emergency or same-day refrigerator and freezer repair, 24 hours a day. Searching for appliance repair near me? Call (972) 449-9527 for fast same-day help and emergency help in The Colony and nearby cities. We take calls 24 hours a day.
Related repair services
See all services, brands we repair or learn about our team. Back to our homepage.
We repair brands like Samsung, GE and Sub-Zero, and we serve cities such as Roanoke and Sachse.
