I recently came across a tip that went viral a couple weeks ago. It’s a great Quick Tip that I would love to share with all of you, and it has to do with a quarter and frozen water in a coffee mug.
Someone shared this tip as areas of the east coast were being evacuated in preparation for hurricane Matthew, and it has to do with gaging if food in the freezer is still good, or if it had spoiled. Though we weren’t really affected here in the northeast by the hurricane, we do suffer from power outages during the winter because of frozen lines, etc. This tip will come in very handy.
Put a mug of water in your freezer and freeze it solid. Place a quarter on top of the ice and leave it in your freezer. This way, if your power did go out, you’ll be able to tell if your food completely defrosted, refroze, or if it stayed frozen while the power was out.
If the quarter fell to the bottom of the mug, then all of your food had defrosted and all needs to be discarded. If the quarter fell to the middle, then the food still may be ok. If the quarter stayed on top of the ice, all is fine and your food did not defrost.
Always heed on the side of caution. If you do find the quarter sank half way, be sure and feel the meats and give them a good smell. If the meats are still pretty firm and there is no spoiled odor, then they are most likely safe to eat. If the meats do have a lot of give and the smell is slightly on the spoiled smell side, then I would recommend discarding.
This Quick Tip is a good gage for your freezer. Certainly doesn’t hurt.
Enjoy today’s Quick Tip Friday!
Sources: Sheila Pulanco Russell/Facebook / Photo credit: Sheila Pulanco Russell/Facebook
Dana says
Great tip…..thanks…..AGAIN!
Sam Scout says
Great tip. You do good work.
Daddy Warbucks says
If the quarter is gone what does that mean. Perhaps Jack Frost is really a crook or maybe the tooth fairy needed a little change. Perhaps a camera activated when the freezer door opens! That may work. Of course the tooth fairy now gives more than a quarter. Maybe putting a silver dollar in the mug would be best if the tooth Fairy is really the culprit. Only the Shadow knows. .