If you live in an area where storms tend to knock the power out, you’ve probably come home from a trip wondering, “Did everything in my freezer thaw and refreeze while I was away?”
Unless you have security cameras that alert you when they go offline and back online, it can be hard to know how long the power was out. If it was just an hour or two, chances are your food is fine. But if it was longer, you’ll want a way to check before serving up anything that could make your next vacation a trip to the ER.
Here are two easy hacks to help you figure out if your frozen food is still safe:
1. The Ice Cube Bag Test
Before you leave, put a few ice cubes in a Ziploc bag and place it in the freezer. When you get back, take a look. If the cubes are still solid, great. If they’ve melted into a frozen puddle, that means your freezer likely lost power long enough for the food to thaw.
2. The Quarter-in-a-Cup Trick
Another viral trick involves freezing a cup of water, placing a quarter on top of the ice, and sticking it back in the freezer. When you return, check where the quarter ended up. If it sank to the bottom, your food fully defrosted and you should toss it. If it’s still on top or somewhere in the middle, your food may still be okay.
Pro Tip: Don’t use your favorite ceramic mug for the quarter test. I learned the hard way when mine cracked from the expanding ice. Use a paper or plastic cup instead.
These simple tricks can help you avoid spoiled food and give you peace of mind after a trip. Just one less thing to worry about when you’re unpacking and trying to remember where you hid your souvenirs.
If you have an icemaker, another clue will be the solid block of ice in the bin. Cubes won’t refreeze into their original shape again …
Good thinking!