To determine if your freezer food has defrosted due to a blackout or power outage, try this simple coin trick. It’s especially useful when you leave for vacation.
The freezer is essential for preserving food, particularly if you have little time to cook. However, improper storage of raw or cooked food can pose health risks. This issue is particularly concerning when you go on vacation or are away for a few days. Power outages can cause food stored in the freezer to defrost and then refreeze, which increases the risk of consuming food that hasn’t been kept at a safe temperature.
To avoid this problem, you can use a coin. Here’s how it works.
The Freezer Coin Method
This clever trick will help you determine if the internal temperature of the freezer increased enough to cause food to defrost.
How It Works
The technique involves placing a glass of frozen water with a coin on top inside the freezer before you leave. If a power outage occurs, the ice will melt, and the coin will sink to the bottom. When power is restored and the water refreezes, the new position of the coin will indicate whether a power outage occurred.
How to Proceed