What to Eat When the Power Goes Out: No-Cook Meals and a 3-Day Menu
The right order to empty the fridge, freezer and pantry, plus easy food for everyone, from toddlers to teenagers, with only a can opener and a spoon.
- Halal throughout
- USDA timings
- Printable stock-up list
Knowing what to eat when the power goes out comes down to the clock: the fridge food first, the freezer food next and the pantry last. Most of what follows needs no stove at all, just a can opener, a spoon and a little planning.
Below: the eating order with USDA timings, 20 no-cook meals, a 3-day menu, six camp-stove meals and a storm-season stock-up list, all halal. The shopping list behind it is the guide to the best emergency foods to buy at the grocery store.
Quick answer
Eat in this order. First, perishables from the fridge, which stays safe about 4 hours with the door shut. Next, the freezer: about 48 hours if full, 24 if half full. Then the pantry: tuna on crackers, peanut butter wraps, bean and corn salad, cereal with shelf-stable milk, fruit cups. Plan 1 gallon of water per person per day.
What to Eat When the Power Goes Out, Hour by Hour
The order matters more than the menu. Food in a closed fridge stays safe for about 4 hours; a full freezer holds for about 48 hours and a half-full one for about 24, as long as the doors stay shut. So eat from the fridge while it is cold, then the freezer, and save the pantry for later.
The fridge
Milk, yogurt, leftovers, cooked chicken, cut fruit and soft cheese go first. Plan the whole meal before opening the door, take everything out at once and close it. After 4 hours, move what is left into a cooler packed with ice.
The freezer
Bread, tortillas, bagels and frozen fruit can be eaten as they thaw. Raw meat and freezer meals need cooking, outdoors on a camp stove or grill, while they still have ice crystals or read 40°F or below.
The pantry
Canned fish, chicken and beans, peanut butter, crackers, cereal, fruit cups and shelf-stable milk wait patiently. Starting on them last stretches the supply and wastes nothing from the fridge.
The rule for anything perishable: once it has been above 40°F for more than 2 hours, throw it out. Never taste food to decide; when in doubt, throw it out. Hard cheese, butter, whole fruit, peanut butter, jams and pickles hold up far longer than milk or meat.
The full keep-or-toss charts, food group by food group, are in this guide to power outage food safety. Still building the pantry side? Start with the 25 best emergency foods to buy at the grocery store, then come back for the meals.
20 No-Cook Meals for a Power Outage
Every combination below needs nothing but a can opener, a spoon and a clean plate. Canned beans, fish and chicken were cooked in the can, so they are safe to eat cold from an undamaged can. Open only what gets eaten at one sitting: without a fridge, opened food is good for about 2 hours.
Every meal is No-cook. Kid-friendly marks the ones most children eat happily; High-protein marks meals built on fish or chicken. Tap a number below the cards to jump back to one.
Tuna and crackers
Canned or pouched tuna stirred with mustard or relish, piled onto crackers, with canned peaches on the side.
Bean and corn salad
Black beans and corn, drained, tossed with canned diced tomatoes, oil, bottled lime juice, cumin and salt.
Peanut butter banana wraps
A tortilla spread with peanut butter, topped with a sliced banana or a drizzle of honey and rolled up tight.
Outage-style overnight oats
Quick oats soaked 15 to 20 minutes in a single-serve box of shelf-stable milk, with raisins and cinnamon.
Canned chicken salad
Drained canned chicken mixed with a shelf-stable mayonnaise packet, relish and pepper, spooned onto crackers.
Smashed chickpea wraps
Chickpeas mashed with tahini or oil, bottled lemon juice and garlic powder, then rolled into tortillas.
Cheese, crackers and apples
Hard cheese such as cheddar holds up far better than soft cheese. Slice it with crackers, apples and almonds.
Cereal with milk boxes
Any dry cereal with a single-serve box of shelf-stable milk poured straight over and canned fruit alongside.
Salmon on crackers
Pouched or canned salmon with bottled lemon juice and black pepper on whole-grain crackers.
White bean and tuna salad
Cannellini beans and tuna with oil, bottled lemon juice, dried oregano and salt. Eat it with a spoon or crackers.
Trail mix box
Nuts, raisins, dry cereal and a few chocolate chips shaken together in a jar, then portioned into cups.
Peanut butter crackers and applesauce
Crackers sandwiched with peanut butter plus an applesauce cup: the lunch most children eat without argument.
Bean tostadas
Shelf-stable tostada shells topped with vegetarian refried beans, jarred salsa and drained corn.
Three-bean salad
Canned green beans, kidney beans and chickpeas in oil, apple cider vinegar, a pinch of sugar and salt.
Chicken and pineapple wraps
Canned chicken and drained pineapple tidbits rolled in tortillas with a spoon of jarred sweet chili sauce.
Yogurt parfaits on day 1
Straight from the fridge in the first hours: yogurt layered with granola and berries before the fridge warms.
Rice cakes with nut butter
Rice cakes spread with peanut or sunflower seed butter, topped with sliced banana or a drizzle of honey.
Pantry snack board
Hard cheese, olives, jarred roasted peppers, pickles, crackers, nuts and dried apricots on one board.
Bean and cheese nachos
Tortilla chips with drained black beans, jarred salsa and shelf-stable cheese dip, no oven needed.
Chopped chickpea salad
Whole cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers chopped with a can of chickpeas, oil, lemon juice and salt.
Kid-friendly: 3 4 7 8 11 12 13 15 16 17 19
Two things make most of these meals possible: a manual can opener and a good stock of peanut butter.
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KitchenAid Classic Multifunction Can Opener
Half the meals on this page start with a can. A hand-turned opener with a sharp wheel and a big knob works in a dark kitchen when the electric one is useless.
Check Price on Amazon →
Jif Creamy Peanut Butter, 16 oz (6 Jars)
Six jars of no-cook protein for wraps, crackers, rice cakes and apple slices. Children rarely refuse it, and an opened jar needs no fridge.
Check Price on Amazon →Got a Camp Stove? 6 Quick Hot Meals (Outdoors Only)
Carbon monoxide: never use a camp stove, grill or generator indoors, in a garage or on an enclosed porch. The gas has no smell and builds up fast. Cook outside, away from doors, windows and vents.
A hot meal makes a long, dark evening feel normal. These six cook in 20 minutes or less, which saves fuel. For fuel amounts and other heat sources, see how to cook without electricity.
Freezer breakfast burritos
10 minHeat still-cold burritos, wrapped in foil, in a covered skillet over low heat, turning once, until hot in the center. A stash of make-ahead freezer breakfast burritos is the easiest hot breakfast there is.
Skillet quesadillas
8 minTortillas, drained black beans and shredded hard cheese from the cooler, crisped about 2 minutes a side in a dry skillet. Add canned corn and jarred salsa at the table.
Angel hair with tomatoes and tuna
12 minThin pasta cooks in 4 to 5 minutes, which saves fuel. Drain, then stir in canned diced tomatoes, oil, garlic powder and a can of tuna.
Couscous with chickpeas
10 minBring 1 cup of water to a boil, stir in 1 cup of couscous, cover and take it off the flame for 5 minutes. Fluff with oil, cumin, drained chickpeas and canned tomatoes.
Mashed potatoes with chicken and peas
10 minInstant potato flakes need nothing but hot water. Spoon them into bowls and top with canned chicken and peas warmed in a splash of broth.
Freezer meals, cooked while cold
15 to 20 minSingle-serve freezer meals for one and thawing burgers or chicken pieces cook well in a covered skillet. Cook them while they still have ice crystals or read 40°F or below, and cook meat all the way through.
Hot water for tea, cocoa and instant coffee comes from the same flame, and these camping coffee makers brew a proper cup outdoors.
Gas One GS-3400P Dual Fuel Portable Camping Stove
A single-burner stove that runs on butane or, with its regulator, a propane cylinder: enough for every hot meal on this page. Outdoors only.
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Chef Master Butane Fuel Canisters, 8 oz (4-Pack)
Four 8 oz canisters for the stove. Each is rated on the label at about 2 hours on high, plenty for a few days of quick hot meals.
Check Price on Amazon →Staying Hydrated When the Power Is Out
FEMA and Ready.gov advise storing at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for at least 3 days: about half for drinking, the rest for food and washing. Store more for hot weather, illness and pets.
| Household | 3 days | 1 week |
|---|---|---|
| Household1 person | 3 days3 gallons | 1 week7 gallons |
| Household2 people | 3 days6 gallons | 1 week14 gallons |
| Household4 people | 3 days12 gallons | 1 week28 gallons |
- Fill clean pitchers and bottles for drinking when a storm is forecast
- Fill the bathtub for flushing and washing, not for drinking
- Count the juice in canned fruit and the liquid in canned vegetables
- Choose unsalted crackers and nuts; salty food makes people thirstier
- Drink what you need rather than rationing it
- Follow any local boil-water notice before drinking from the tap
Containers, rotation and treating water are covered step by step in this guide on how to store water for emergencies.
Keep the Fridge Closed and Group the Food
Every door opening lets cold air out and shortens the 4 hours. Four habits keep food colder for longer.
Decide before the door opens
Tape a list of what is inside to the fridge door. Choose the whole meal, open once, take everything out together and close it again.
Group the freezer food
Food packed tightly together stays cold longer. Push packages together and fill the gaps with bottles of frozen water.
A cooler after 4 hours
Once the fridge has been off for about 4 hours, move milk, meat, leftovers and other perishables into a cooler with ice or frozen gel packs.
Check the thermometer
An appliance thermometer ends the guessing: the fridge should read 40°F or below and the freezer 0°F or below.
Freezer alarms help overnight: these fridge and freezer thermometers with alarms sound when the temperature climbs, and plain fridge thermometers need no power at all.
A dark kitchen means long searches with the door open. A lantern on the counter and a charged phone keep every trip short.
Lichamp LED Camping Lanterns (4-Pack)
Four pull-up lanterns, one for the kitchen counter and one for the table, so every fridge trip is quick. They take AA batteries, sold separately.
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INIU 20,000mAh Portable Charger
Keeps phones charged for flashlights, weather updates and calls through a long outage. Charge it fully the day a storm is forecast.
Check Price on Amazon →Kids and Picky Eaters During an Outage
Children cope better with an outage when the food looks familiar. The goal for three days is food they will actually eat, without waste.
Familiar food first
The same cereal, crackers, peanut butter and applesauce as any other week. An outage is no time to introduce a new food.
Make it a picnic
A blanket on the floor and a lantern in the middle turn a cold dinner into an event. Paper plates mean no washing up.
Let them choose
Each child picks two snacks for the outage box ahead of time. Choosing gives them something to look forward to.
Small portions
Single-serve cups, small cans and snack packs mean nothing sits open. Leftover opened food is good for only about 2 hours.
Dessert first, once
Ice cream will not survive the thaw, so serve it early while it is still frozen. It is a rare treat with an excuse.
Allergies and babies
Follow their doctor’s guidance and keep the foods they already use. Ready-to-feed formula needs no water or mixing.
More ideas for little eaters are in this guide to emergency food for kids.
Stock-Up List Before Storm Season
Work through it in late spring or early fall, before a storm is named and the shelves empty. Buy food the household already eats and rotate the oldest cans into weekly meals.
Drinks
- Water: 1 gallon per person per day, at least 3 days
- Single-serve boxes of shelf-stable milk
- Juice boxes
- Tea, cocoa and instant coffee
Proteins
- Canned and pouched tuna, salmon and chicken
- Canned beans and chickpeas
- Peanut or sunflower seed butter
- Almonds and other nuts
Bread and cereal
- Crackers and rice cakes
- Tortillas and tostada shells
- Dry cereal and quick oats
- Couscous, thin pasta and instant potatoes, for a stove
Fruit and vegetables
- Canned fruit and applesauce cups
- Canned corn, green beans and diced tomatoes
- Raisins and dried apricots
- Whole apples and oranges
Extras
- Jarred salsa, relish and mustard
- Shelf-stable mayonnaise packets
- Granola bars and trail mix
- One comfort treat per person
Gear
- A manual can opener
- Lanterns and spare batteries
- A charged power bank
- A cooler, ice packs and appliance thermometers
- Paper plates, wipes and trash bags
What to Eat When the Power Goes Out: FAQ
What should you eat first when the power goes out?
Perishables from the fridge, while they are still cold: milk, yogurt, leftovers, cooked meat and cut fruit. A closed fridge keeps food safe for about 4 hours. Then eat from the freezer, and save canned and dry food for last.
What can you eat when the power is out and there is no stove?
No-cook meals: tuna or chicken on crackers, peanut butter wraps, bean and corn salad, cereal with shelf-stable milk, fruit cups, trail mix, and hard cheese with crackers. Canned food is cooked in the can, so it is safe to eat cold if the can is undamaged.
How long is food good in the fridge when the power goes out?
About 4 hours, if the door stays closed. After that, perishables such as milk, meat, eggs and leftovers that have been above 40°F for more than 2 hours should be thrown out. Move them into a cooler with ice before then.
How long will food stay frozen without power?
A full freezer keeps food frozen for about 48 hours and a half-full one for about 24, as long as the door stays shut. Food that still has ice crystals or reads 40°F or below can be cooked or refrozen.
Is it safe to eat canned food without heating it?
Yes. Commercially canned food is cooked in the can, so it is safe cold if the can is in good condition. Throw out cans that bulge, leak, spurt when opened or are deeply dented on a seam.
What can kids eat during a power outage?
Familiar food: their usual cereal with shelf-stable milk, peanut butter wraps, applesauce and fruit cups, cheese and crackers, and trail mix. Keep portions small so nothing sits open.
Can you cook on a grill or camp stove during a power outage?
Outdoors only. Camp stoves, grills and generators give off carbon monoxide, which builds up indoors, in garages and on enclosed porches. Cook away from doors, windows and vents.
How do you keep food cold when the power goes out?
Keep the doors shut, group freezer food tightly together and fill gaps with frozen water bottles. After about 4 hours, move perishables into a cooler with ice, and check an appliance thermometer: the fridge should read 40°F or below.
How much water do you need during a power outage?
At least 1 gallon per person per day for at least 3 days, according to FEMA and Ready.gov: about half for drinking, the rest for food and washing. A family of four needs at least 12 gallons.
Can you eat food from the freezer after the power comes back on?
Food that still has ice crystals or reads 40°F or below can be refrozen or cooked. Perishable food above 40°F for more than 2 hours should be thrown out. Never taste food to decide.
What food should you buy before a power outage?
Water first, then food that needs no cooking or fridge: canned tuna, chicken and beans, peanut butter, crackers, tortillas, cereal, shelf-stable milk, fruit cups and granola bars. Add a manual can opener, lanterns, batteries and a charged power bank.
How do you make coffee when the power is out?
Heat water on a camp stove or grill outdoors and use instant coffee, a pour-over cone or a camping coffee maker. With no flame at all, instant coffee dissolves in cold water.
Can overnight oats sit out without a fridge?
Not overnight. Opened milk should not sit above 40°F for more than 2 hours. Soak quick oats in a single-serve box of shelf-stable milk for 15 to 20 minutes and eat them right away, or soak them in a cooler with ice.
More for the Next Outage
The grocery list, keep-or-toss charts, outdoor cooking and freezer alarms.
Best Emergency Foods to Buy at Your Grocery Store
The 25 staples, how much to buy and a 7-day plan. See the list → Keep or TossPower Outage Food Safety
Food group by food group, what stays and what goes. Read the charts → No PowerHow to Cook Without Electricity
Camp stoves, grills and fuel, all used outdoors. Read the guide → Little EatersEmergency Food for Kids
Familiar foods and comfort snacks for children. See the ideas → Freezer AlarmsFridge and Freezer Thermometers With Alarms
Know when the freezer warms up, even overnight. See the picks → Make AheadFreezer Breakfast Burritos
A stash that warms on a camp stove outdoors. See the recipe →Fridge first, freezer next, pantry last.
That is the whole answer to what to eat when the power goes out. The shopping list behind it lives in the full guide.
Back to the full list: Best Emergency Foods to Buy at Your Grocery Store →
Next read: Power Outage Food Safety: What to Keep, What to Toss and How Long Food Lasts.
