Jade Small

Jade Small

November 11, 2024

Why You Should Always Put a Coin in the Freezer Before You Leave Home

Many assume their freezer is excellent at keeping food perfectly frozen for long periods. Yet, even if it’s a new appliance, unexpected factors can cause your food to thaw. A woman shared a clever trick on Facebook involving a coin in a cup to determine if your food has thawed, leaving people intrigued.

Food Accidentally Defrosting

Image credit: pexels

Unexpected incidents like power outages, natural events, or unnoticed local maintenance can disrupt the freezing point, leading to defrosting. This can result in bacteria forming, posing health risks, especially with meats and dairy. This is where the coin in a cup method can help, which will be explained shortly.

Let’s consider if you’re away for a weekend trip. Assuming the power stays on and your freezer is functioning well, your food should remain safe. But, if there’s a power disruption or the freezer needs repairs, your food might thaw and refreeze, making it difficult to determine what’s still consumable.

Coin in a Cup to the Rescue

Image credit: Facebook

By now, you might wonder how placing a coin in a cup helps indicate food freshness. In 2016, Sheila Pulanco Russell shared this hack on Facebook, especially useful for those evacuated from coastal areas. She advised freezing a cup of water, then placing a coin on top and leaving it in the freezer.

She explained, “When you return home, if the coin has dropped to the bottom, your food likely defrosted and should be discarded. If the coin is still on top or halfway down, the food might still be fine.” Russell continued, suggesting it’s wise to keep this setup in the freezer at all times for such occurrences. If uncertain about the safety of your food, she recommended discarding it for safety.

Reactions

Russell’s post received 231 thousand likes and shared over 420 thousand times, garnering around 30 thousand comments from people praising the simplicity of the idea. One user remarked, “Brilliant and simple!” While another mentioned they had been using it for years in their own home’s freezer.

Sources

  1. Why You Should Keep A Frozen Cup With A Coin On Top In Your Freezer.” CBS News. October 22, 2019
  2. Facebook. Sheila Pulanco Russell. October 6 2016