If you’re considering leaving food in the freezer while you’re away on vacation, this article is a must-read. Today, we’re sharing a simple trick that will help you determine whether the food left in your freezer is safe to consume upon your return.
Occasionally, power outages can occur while we’re away, causing the contents of our freezers to thaw and potentially spoil without our knowledge.
One ingenious solution comes from Sheila Pulanco Russell, who has devised a clever trick to check the status of your refrigerator’s functionality using just a mug of water and a penny. With this straightforward experiment, you can ensure that your fridge is maintaining optimal temperatures, minimizing the risk of spoiled food upon your return.
Here’s how it works: Sheila demonstrates the fridge-mug experiment using tap water. It’s remarkably simple – if the penny freezes within the water, it indicates that your refrigerator is effectively maintaining a chilled environment. However, if the penny remains unfrozen, it’s a sign that your fridge may not be functioning properly, potentially putting your groceries at risk of spoilage. Give this experiment a try at home to ensure the safety of your stored food items.
In a widely circulated Facebook post, Sheila shares a valuable tip that garnered hundreds of thousands of reactions and shares. She advises:
“For those evacuating from coastal areas, here’s a helpful tip known as the ‘one cup tip.’ Simply fill a cup with water and freeze it solid. Then, place a quarter on top of the ice and leave it in your freezer. Upon your return, you can use this simple method to assess the condition of your food.
If the quarter has sunk to the bottom of the cup, indicating that the ice melted completely, it’s best to discard the food. However, if the quarter remains on the top or in the middle of the cup, your food may still be safe to consume. Consider keeping this setup in your freezer at all times as a precautionary measure in case of power outages.
Above all, prioritize safety. If you have any doubts about the condition of your food, it’s better to err on the side of caution and discard it. Please share this important tip with others to ensure their safety.
Regardless of the circumstance, if you’re uncertain about the safety of food, it’s best to discard it. Above all else, your health remains paramount, serving as the utmost priority in life.