Johannesburg’s power grid has been flickering more than a candle in a Highveld storm. The situation is dire for several areas in the city that have been struck without power for days and counting.
With frequent outages stretching on across Joburg, residents are scrambling to save their groceries and their budgets. Here’s what you need to know about keeping your perishables safe and spotting when they’ve gone bad.
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1. How long can your fridge stay cold without power?
Once the power cuts, a closed fridge will keep food cold for about 4 hours, assuming you don’t open the door. After that, the temperature creeps above the safe 5°C mark, and perishables like milk, meat, and leftovers start entering the danger zone. eep the door shut as much as possible to prevent cold air from escaping.
2. Freezers buy you more time, up to a point…
A full freezer can hold its chill for 48 hours if you don’t open it, while a half-full one lasts about 24 hours, according to the Central Karoo District Municipality. That’s enough to save your meat for day or two, at most. But as an outage drags into day three, even the freezer can’t save everything. Check for ice crystals—if they’re gone, your food’s likely thawed and refrozen, which isn’t a good sign.
3. Milk and dairy
Milk, yoghurt, and cheese are a different story. In a fridge without power, milk stays safe for only 4-6 hours before it starts to sour. Soft cheeses like feta or cream cheese spoil even faster, while hard cheeses can last a bit longer—up to 6-8 hours—if kept cool. Smell test: if it’s off, don’t risk it.
4. Meat and poultry
Raw meat, chicken, and fish are prone to spoiling fast. In a powerless fridge, they’re safe for just 4-6 hours; in a thawing freezer, you’ve got 24-48 hours depending on how full it is. Cooked meat lasts slightly longer—up to 6-8 hours in the fridge—but if it smells funky or feels slimy, toss it. Food poisoning isn’t worth the gamble.
5. Fruits and veggies
Good news for your five-a-day: most fruits and vegetables can handle a power outage better than you’d think. Apples, carrots, and potatoes can sit at room temperature for days or even weeks without spoiling. Leafy greens like spinach or lettuce, though, wilt fast—expect them to last 6-12 hours in a warm fridge before they turn to mush.
6. Tip: Stock up on ice
Buy bags of ice or freeze water bottles ahead of time, then stash them in your fridge or a cooler to extend the cold. A well-packed cooler can keep perishables safe for an extra 12-24 hours.
7. Freeze what you can preemptively
Got mince, soup, or even bread? Freeze it preemptively. Freezing extends shelf life and buys you time when the power cuts. Even items like milk or cooked pap can be frozen in portions—just thaw them properly when the lights come back. It’s a small effort that saves you from binning food later.
8. Know when to bin it
No one wants or can even afford to waste food, but safety comes first. If your fridge has been off for over 6 hours or your freezer’s been powerless for more than 48, check for signs of spoilage: funky smells, slimy textures, or mould. Meat and dairy are the biggest culprits—when in doubt, throw it out.
Warnings from Ward Councillors across the city have urged residents to note that outages aren’t going to stop anytime soon, so stock up on non-perishables like tinned foods. Shop and cook smaller batches of fresh food to avoid leftovers sitting in a warm fridge. A gas braai can turn thawing meat into a a meal before it spoils.
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Feature Image: Getty
