Discover the Surprising Reason People Freeze Coins!

Unexpected disruptions like power outages or severe weather can cause food in your freezer to partially or fully thaw before refreezing, posing a risk of bacterial growth. It can be hard to tell if food is safe just by looking at it, especially after thawing and refreezing.

The coin in a cup method, popularized by Sheila Pulanco Russell, offers a simple way to check if your freezer contents remained frozen during a power outage. By freezing a cup of water with a coin on top, you can easily determine if the ice melted and refroze while you were away.

If the coin sinks to the bottom or is partially submerged in the cup after freezing, it indicates that the food may have thawed, making it unsafe to consume. This method provides a visual cue that eliminates the guesswork involved in assessing the safety of refrozen food.

While the coin in a cup method is not a replacement for proper food safety practices or temperature monitoring, it serves as a handy backup tool. By incorporating this technique along with regular freezer maintenance and safe food handling, you can minimize the risk of foodborne illnesses during unforeseen power interruptions.