Have you ever returned from a vacation, business trip, or weekend getaway with your family, only to find your digital clocks displaying the incorrect time?
You soon realize that there was a power outage during your absence, but determining its exact timing or duration seems nearly impossible. Consequently, you have no way of knowing how long your frozen food may have thawed, spoiled, and refrozen.
Or does a solution exist to this conundrum?
During the occurrence of Hurricane Matthews, which affected various regions of the United States in 2016, Sheila Pulanco Russell shared a clever tip on her Facebook page for those who had to evacuate their homes.
However, this trick is also highly useful for any extended absence from your home, as it provides reassurance regarding the condition of the food in your freezer. It helps determine whether it is safe to consume or if it should be discarded immediately.
The trick revolves around the ingenious utilization of three readily available household items: a mug, a coin, and tap water.
Sheila’s Facebook post gained significant traction, garnering hundreds of thousands of reactions and shares. She explained the process as follows:
“For those who are evacuating from the coastal areas, I came across a fantastic tip that I’d like to share with you. It’s called the ‘one cup tip.’ Here’s what you do: take a cup of water and place it in your freezer. Let it freeze completely, then put a quarter on top of the ice and leave it inside. This way, when you return after being evacuated, you can determine whether your food thawed and refroze or remained frozen during your absence.
Here’s how to interpret the results:
If the quarter has sunk to the bottom of the cup, it indicates that all the food defrosted, and it’s advisable to discard it. However, if the quarter is either on the top or in the middle of the cup, your food may still be okay. This tip can be beneficial to follow regularly, as it provides a backup plan if you ever experience a power outage.
Of course, if you’re unsure about the safety of your food, it’s best to err on the side of caution and discard it. The most important thing is to prioritize everyone’s safety. Please share this useful trick on your page.”
It’s a simple and effective method that can save you money by avoiding unnecessary disposal of food. Feel free to share this handy trick with all your friends!
