Expert: Carol Schlitt - 9/6/2007

Question
  So recently we have been having blackouts here in our neighborhood.  I went to the grocery store to buy frozen chicken thighs and yogurt.  Though, when i returned to my house the electricity was still off.  It was about 6 hours until it came back on.  I put the food back in the freezer (chicken) and the yogurt back into the fridge.  I am wondering whether food is safe to eat?

Answer
Hi Rocky,

Did you have the chicken and yogurt in anything to try to keep them cool -- such as a cooler? I hope so as chicken at room temperature defrosts very quickly and can support the growth of harmful bacteria.

Again -- if you had it in a cooler and the chicken still had ice crystals 6 hours later, it will be safe to eat.  If however you had the chicken at room temperature for the entire 6 hours the recommendation is to not consume the chicken.

The recommendation on yogurt is the same -- if it is out over 2 hours at room temperature it should not be consumed.

Sorry....

Carol