If you’re asking about the “coin in the freezer” trick, it’s a popular hack used to determine if your freezer lost power while you were away, potentially compromising the safety of your frozen food.
Here’s how it works:
- Freeze a container of water: Fill a small container with water and freeze it completely.
- Place a coin on top: Once the water is frozen solid, place a coin (like a penny or a quarter) on top of the ice.
- Leave it in the freezer: [Place the cup back in the freezer] and go about your business.
When you return:
- Coin is on top: If the coin is still on top of the ice, your freezer likely maintained power and the food is safe.
- Coin is in the middle: If the coin is partially frozen into the ice, it indicates a power outage occurred, and the food may have thawed and refrozen.
- Coin is at the bottom: If the coin has sunk to the bottom, the power was out for an extended period, the freezer completely defrosted, and the food should be discarded.
Important considerations:
- While this trick can be a helpful indicator, it’s not foolproof and shouldn’t be the only method to assess food safety.
- If you have any doubts about the safety of your food after a power outage, it’s best to err on the side of caution and discard it to prevent foodborne illness.
- The FDA recommends keeping the freezer door closed as much as possible during a power outage; a full freezer can keep food safe for up to 48 hours, while a half-full freezer can do so for 24 hours.
What does freezing coins do?
From my experience, Before leaving, place a coin on the frozen surface. ❄️When you return, you will be able to see if the coin is still on the surface, where you left it, or if it has sunk into the ice: this will mean that the power went out during your absence, and therefore the products in the freezer may have been defrosted.
What is the ice coin freezer trick?
First, you freeze water in a cup or other container—not too much, about half an inch deep. Once the water is frozen, you place a coin on top of the ice in the cup and leave it in the freezer. When the power comes back on, or when you return after a relatively long absence, you check the cup.
Why are people putting quarters in the freezer?
I can help with that. It’s when people put a quarter on top of a frozen cup of water. And keep it in the freezer. It’s an old trick for folks who evacuate or lose power to avoid eating spoiled.