Is your freezer really doing its job, or is it secretly playing a dangerous game with your food?
While many of us trust that our freezers can preserve our food for months, unforeseen circumstances can throw off that reliability. From sudden power outages to unexpected maintenance work in the neighborhood, various factors can lead to food defrosting and cause serious health problems. A woman recently shared an ingenious hack on Facebook that amazed many: a simple coin-in-a-cup method to check the safety of your frozen food.
Accidental defrosting of food
Life is full of unexpected events. From power outages to natural disasters or even routine neighborhood maintenance that caused you to miss an announcement, these can all play a role in disturbing the frozen foods in your fridge and thawing them. The problem is that bacteria can take hold, which is a serious health concern, especially with meat and dairy products. This is where the coin-in-a-cup method comes into play.
Let’s say you went on a trip, even if it’s just a weekend. If the power stays on the whole time and your freezer is in good shape, your food should be fine when you get back. But what if there is a power outage for whatever reason? Or maybe your freezer needs some TLC? Whatever the cause, there is a chance that your food will thaw and then freeze, making it difficult to determine what is good to eat and what is not.
It is possible that your food was thawed and then refrozen for whatever reason. This makes it difficult to determine what is and isn’t healthy to eat.
Savings in a coin cup
You’re probably asking yourself right now, “How on earth can a coin in a cup tell me if my food is safe or not?” Sheila Pulanco Russell shared a message on Facebook with her followers describing the life hack. She directed it towards the people who would have to leave their homes. “For those of you evacuating from the coast,” she began. “I just got a really good tip. We call it the one-cup tip. You fill the freezer with a cup of water. After it solidifies in the freezer, put a quarter on top of it and store it there.”
“That way you can determine after evacuation if your food went bad and simply froze, or if it stayed frozen while you were gone,” she continued. The food is fully defrosted if a quarter of it falls to the bottom of the cup. And it should be thrown away. However, your food may still be fine if the quarter is either on top or in the middle of the cup.”
“Also, it would be a great idea to keep it in the freezer at all times so you have this tip to fall back on if for some reason you lose power,” she wrote as she wrapped up her post.
Simply throw away the food if it doesn’t make you feel good. Everyone’s safety is paramount.”
Responses
Sheila’s post has been shared and liked by more than 420,000 people. The idea of a brilliant coin in a cup received praise in almost 30,000 comments. A comment on her post read: “Perfect and easy to understand!” “I’ve been using this in my porch freezer for years,” said another, echoing a previous comment.
In conclusion, the innovative “coin in a cup” method presented by Sheila Polanco Russell offers a simple yet effective way to ensure food safety in the event of an unexpected power outage or freezer failure. By freezing a cup of water with a quarter on top, individuals can easily tell if their food has been thawed and refrozen, helping to reduce the risk of foodborne illness. The overwhelmingly positive response to this practical life hack underscores the importance of community-based solutions to everyday problems. As we all strive to keep our food safe and our families healthy, this tip serves as a reminder to stay proactive and informed. Remember, when in doubt about the safety of your food, it’s always better to err on the side of caution.
References
“Why should you have a frozen cup with a coin on top in the freezer? CBS News, 22 Oct. 2019. Facebook. Russell, Sheila Pulanco. October 6, 2016.