My Posts

Why Should You Leave a Coin in the Freezer?

By Orgesta Tolaj

|

22 August 2024

coin in the freezer

©️ EyeEm

Have you ever heard of the practice of leaving a coin in the freezer? While it may sound unusual, this simple household trick holds surprising benefits.

Believe it or not, there are scientific reasons why keeping a coin in the freezer can be beneficial. From prolonging the freshness of your food to indicating potential power outages, this simple hack offers practical advantages that may surprise you.

If you are curious about how a small coin can make a big impact, read on to uncover the fascinating reasons behind this practice.

Here Is Why You Should Put a Coin in the Freezer

Increasingly erratic weather patterns and natural disasters highlight the need for better environmental stewardship. In this context, power outages have become more common.

A practical method to check if a power outage has occurred while you’re away is to freeze a cup of water with a coin placed on top. If the power goes out, the coin will move within the ice, indicating a disruption in the freezing process.

coin in the freezer
© frantic / Freepik

When leaving for a short trip, use the coin-in-the-freezer trick to check for power outages. If the coin remains on top of the ice in a cup of water, your power stayed on. If it has sunk to the bottom, the power was out long enough to spoil your food. This method is an essential part of emergency preparedness for new homeowners.

How to Set It Up

Being prepared is crucial in today’s world. Stock up on essentials like bottled water, canned beans, and tinned salmon, and have a home generator ready. To ensure your generator remains reliable, avoid common maintenance mistakes.

Refrozen food may appear fine but can harbor bacteria if it has been left at room temperature for more than two hours, according to USDA guidelines. To check for potential damage to your food, use the coin-in-the-freezer method as a free and effective way to assess its safety.

coin in the freezer
© marinaghanis98 / Freepik

To check if your freezer experienced a power outage, freeze water in a transparent glass cup or Tupperware and place a coin on top. If the coin has sunk halfway, it indicates partial melting and refreezing, suggesting your food might still be safe. If the coin is at the bottom, the food likely thawed and reached room temperature for a significant time, so it’s best to discard it.

Will you be using the coin in the freezer hack?

You might also want to read: Do Coin Tosses Only Have a 50/50 Probability?

Orgesta Tolaj

Your favorite introvert who is buzzing around the Hive like a busy bee!

Share