The power came back, but your Viking is warm or acting strangely, and there is food inside. It is a stressful moment, because you want to know two things at once: is the food safe, and is the refrigerator damaged? Start with how long the power was off, because that decides what is safe to keep.
This article gives the CDC food-safety limits, a short list of checks that need no tools, and the signs that mean it is time to have the refrigerator looked at. For model-specific display messages and reset steps, your Viking use and care guide is the right reference.
Start with the food
The CDC says a refrigerator keeps food safe for about 4 hours without power if the door stays closed. A full freezer holds for about 48 hours, and a half-full freezer for about 24 hours. Discard perishable food (meat, fish, eggs, milk, cut produce, leftovers) that was above 40°F for more than 4 hours. Never taste food to decide if it is safe (CDC).
Keep a thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer. The refrigerator should read 40°F or below and the freezer 0°F or below (CDC). If you did not have a thermometer in place when the power went out, use the length of the outage as your guide, and when in doubt, throw it out.
Simple checks once power is back
These checks take a few minutes and need no tools. They cover the most common reasons a refrigerator seems wrong after an outage.
- Confirm the unit is plugged in and that the circuit breaker has not tripped.
- Check that both doors and drawers are fully closed and the seals are clean.
- Note any message on the display and write it down exactly. Look it up in the use and care guide for your model number.
- Check the temperature with a thermometer, not by feel.
- Give the unit time to recover before judging whether it cools.
The use and care guide for your model is the authority on display messages, resets and control settings. Viking publishes these by model, and the model number is on the label inside the cabinet. Display messages can differ between models, so avoid applying a reset procedure you found for a different refrigerator.
When to have it looked at
- The refrigerator stays above 40°F after it has had time to recover.
- A message returns after a reset.
- The unit runs constantly or you hear unusual noises.
- Water, a burning smell or sparks were present at any point. In that case turn off power at the breaker only if it is safe, and do not use the unit.
What to have ready
- The model and serial number (inside the cabinet)
- The exact message on the display
- When the power went out and how long it was off
- The temperature reading on your thermometer
- Whether the doors were opened during the outage
Frequently asked questions
How long can a refrigerator stay closed without power?
The CDC says about 4 hours for the refrigerator. A full freezer holds about 48 hours and a half-full freezer about 24 hours, as long as the doors stay closed. After 4 hours without power, perishable food above 40°F should be discarded.
Can I refreeze food that thawed?
The CDC says refreezing or cooking is acceptable if the food still has ice crystals or is at or below 40°F. If you are not sure, do not refreeze it.
Can I tell if food is safe by tasting or smelling it?
No. The CDC says never to taste food to decide if it is safe. Use the temperature and the time the food was without cooling instead.
Where do I find what a display message means?
In the use and care guide for your exact model. Viking publishes guides by model number, and the model number is on the label inside the cabinet. Write down the message exactly as shown before you look it up.
How long should I wait before deciding the refrigerator is not cooling?
Give it time to recover after power returns, and check the temperature with a thermometer rather than by feel. If the refrigerator is still above 40°F after it has had time to recover, have it looked at.
What should I do if there was water or a burning smell?
Do not use the unit. Turn off power at the breaker only if it is safe to reach, and have it checked before it is used again.
Related reading
See our guide Viking appliance safety after the storm in Las Vegas, our Las Vegas refrigerator repair page, or the Contact page.
About Viking Repair Pro
Viking Repair Pro services Viking appliances in the Las Vegas area. If your refrigerator is not cooling after a power interruption, you can send us the model number and what the display shows, and we will help you work out the next step.
