Power outages during stormy winter months are inevitable, and they often leave people wondering what to do with refrigerated foods that might spoil. A full upright or chest freezer with the door kept closed will keep its contents frozen for about two days, according to Linda Harris, a Cooperative Extension food microbiologist at UC Davis. If the freezer is only half full, food inside will remain frozen for only one day."When you do open the freezer, any food that still has ice crystals or feels refrigerator-cold can safely be re-frozen," says Harris. "Any thawed foods that have risen to room temperature should be discarded." If a refrigerator door is kept closed, food inside will remain cool for four to six hours.Meats, milk, cream, yogurt, salads and pastas are among the foods that should be discarded if they warm to room temperature, Harris says. However, margarine, butter, fresh fruits and vegetables, and commercial mayonnaise, ketchup and salad dressing can be kept unrefrigerated. "The bottom line is that you should discard anything with a strange color or odor," she says. "And when in doubt, throw it out."