Have you ever returned home from a trip, whether it be a vacation, business venture, or a weekend getaway with the family, only to find your digital clocks displaying the incorrect time?
Upon closer inspection, you deduce that a power outage occurred in your absence. The problem is, it’s nearly impossible to discern when it happened or the duration of the outage.
Consequently, you’re left in the dark about how long your freezer’s contents might have thawed, spoiled, and then refrozen.
Or is there a solution?
In the aftermath of Hurricane Matthews, which swept through parts of the United States in 2016, Sheila Pulanco Russell, a thoughtful individual, shared a ingenious tip on her Facebook page for those compelled to evacuate their homes.
However, this clever hack is not exclusive to evacuations; it proves valuable for any extended absence from home. It provides peace of mind regarding the edibility of the frozen items in your freezer – whether they’re safe to consume or destined for the trash.
The trick involves the magical combination of three readily available household items: a mug, a coin, and tap water.
In a widely-shared Facebook post, Sheila outlines the procedure:
“For those evacuating from the coast, here’s a great tip I just heard about. It’s called the one cup tip. Place a cup of water in your freezer, let it freeze solid, and then put a quarter on top of it. Leave it in your freezer.
When you return after evacuation, you can determine if your food thawed and refroze or remained frozen.
If the quarter has descended to the bottom of the cup, all the food defrosted, and it’s advisable to discard it. However, if the quarter is on the top or in the middle of the cup, your food may still be safe.
It’s also a smart idea to keep this in your freezer all the time. In the event of a power outage, you have this handy tip to rely on.
If you have reservations about your food, err on the side of caution and discard it. The key is ensuring everyone’s safety. Please share this on your page.”
This technique is both straightforward and efficient, serving as a money-saving strategy by preventing unnecessary disposal of food. Spread the word about this ingenious trick to your friends!