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As you wait for your power to turn back on, here's what to do with your food

Over 30 thousand customers are still without power in central Arkansas, and Entergy has announced that servicing them will be a "multiple-day restoration."

If you're without power in central Arkansas following last night's storm, Entergy just announced that it may take a few days.

According to Entergy Arkansas's outage map, there are approximately 22,500 power outages in Pulaski County alone, with Saline County having 2,656 and 1,053 outages in Lonoke County.

As central Arkansans wait for Entergy to service their area, there are the looming thoughts of what to do with food in the fridge that now has no power.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, make sure you do not taste the food to determine if it's safe or not.

RELATED: Over 67k Entergy power outages, multiple state highway closures in Arkansas following severe wind speeds

It's important to remember that you can't rely on appearance or odor either. If the food still contains ice crystals or is 40 °F or below, it is safe to refreeze. 

The USDA also stresses to evaluate each item separately. Be sure to discard any items in either the freezer or the refrigerator that have come into contact with raw meat juices. 

Partial thawing and refreezing may reduce the quality of some food, but the food will remain safe to eat. 

Below are some charts to reference while going through your fridge.

Credit: KTHV
Credit: KTHV

Visit USDA's website for more information here.

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