Everyone wants to believe their freezer is a boss at its job when it comes to keeping your food frozen for months on end. However, the reality is, that even if your freezer is brand new, there are some external forces at play with a mission to defrost your food.
One woman posted on her Facebook where she shared a brilliant coin in a cup method to tell whether your food has defrosted, and people are amazed. By now you must be wondering to yourself how on earth does a coin in a cup tell me if my food is okay to eat or not?
Sheila Pulanco Russell posted on her Facebook, explaining the life hack to her followers. She aimed it around those who may get evacuated from their homes. “For those of you that are evacuating from the coast,” she wrote. “I just heard a great tip. It’s called the one cup tip. You put a cup of water in your freezer. Freeze it solid and then put a quarter on top of it and leave it in your freezer.”
She added, “That way when you come back after you’ve been evacuated you can tell if your food went completely bad and just refroze or if it stayed Frozen while you were gone. If the quarter has fallen to the bottom of the cup that means all the food defrosted. And you should throw it out. But if the quarter is either on the top or in the middle of the cup then your food may still be ok.”
The key to this genius hack is that when the water in the cup freezes, the coin will be suspended in the middle of the ice. If the power goes out and the food defrosts, the ice will melt, causing the coin to fall to the bottom of the cup. This visual cue lets you know that your food has been compromised and is no longer safe to eat.
On the other hand, if the coin is still on top or suspended in the middle of the ice, it means the freezer maintained its temperature and your food is likely still frozen and safe for consumption.
The Benefits of the Coin in a Cup Method
- Early Warning System: This simple trick provides an early warning system for when your freezer has failed, allowing you to take action before your food spoils.
- Food Safety: Knowing when your food has defrosted is crucial for food safety. Refreezing defrosted food can allow dangerous bacteria to grow, putting your health at risk.
- Saves Money: Throwing out defrosted food is expensive. The coin in a cup method helps you avoid wasting food and money.
- Peace of Mind: With this hack, you can have confidence that your freezer is doing its job, even if you’re away from home for an extended period.
Implementing the coin in a cup method is incredibly easy:
- Fill a cup or container with water and place it in your freezer.
- Once the water is completely frozen, place a coin (a quarter works well) on top of the ice.
- Leave the cup in your freezer, and you’re all set!
The beauty of this hack is that it’s a set-it-and-forget-it solution. You can leave the cup in your freezer and check it anytime to see if your food is still frozen.
Sheila’s post gained 231 thousand likes and over 420 thousand shares. There were nearly 30 thousand comments from people applauding the genius coin in a cup idea. One person commented on her post saying, “Brilliant and simple!” Another echoed that response saying, “Have used this for years in the porch freezer.”
The overwhelming positive response to Sheila’s post demonstrates just how valuable and practical this hack is for people concerned about protecting their frozen food.
In conclusion, the coin in a cup method is a simple, yet incredibly effective way to monitor the status of your frozen food, even when you’re away from home. By providing a visual cue of whether your freezer has maintained its temperature, this hack can save you from the heartbreak of throwing out spoiled food and the potential health risks of consuming defrosted items.
Whether you’re preparing for a natural disaster, dealing with a power outage, or just want to have peace of mind about your freezer’s performance, the coin in a cup trick is a must-try. So, the next time you’re concerned about the integrity of your frozen stash, remember this genius hack and rest easy knowing you have a reliable way to keep an eye on your food.
