The concept of placing a coin in the freezer is a widely circulated trick intended to help you determine if your freezer has lost power and thawed while you were away.
Here’s how the coin in the freezer trick works
- Freeze a cup of water until it’s a solid block of ice.
- Place a coin on top of the frozen ice.
- If the power goes out and the freezer thaws, the ice will melt, and the coin will sink to the bottom of the cup.
- If the power comes back on and the water refreezes, the coin will be frozen at the bottom of the ice, indicating that the food may not be safe to consume.
- If the coin remains on top of the ice when you return, it indicates that the freezer maintained its power and the food is likely safe.
- Reliability: Some sources question the reliability of this trick, pointing out that even if the ice partially melts and refreezes, the coin might not necessarily sink to the bottom.
- Accuracy: The trick may not accurately reflect the extent of thawing or the duration of the power outage.
- Ice cubes in a bag: A simpler alternative is to place a few ice cubes in a closed container or zip-top bag in the freezer. If they melt and refreeze, they’ll form a solid block, indicating a power outage and thawing.
- Visual inspection and food safety guidelines: The most reliable method is to visually inspect the food items for signs of thawing or spoilage and follow food safety guidelines from organizations like Foodsafety.gov.
Important Note: If you suspect a power outage and thawing, err on the side of caution and discard any questionable food to avoid foodborne illnesses.
What is the coin trick for freezers?
What you want to do is freeze a cup of water and then after it’s frozen set a penny on top. put it in your freezer and leave it there. the pennies on top of the frozen water. if you lose power and you pull it out the penny still on top that’s a good sign.
What to do when a coin is frozen?
When you place a coin buy or sell order and it has not been executed, the balance associated with the transaction will be frozen until the transaction is completed. To reactivate the frozen balance, you need to cancel the current order.
Why do people put coins in an ice tray?
Good point! They place it on top of frozen water, if the power goes out the water thaws and the coin sinks. That way the person will know there was a power outage while they were gone, and perhaps the food should be checked for spoilage.