The Freezer Coin Trick: A Simple Hack to Keep Your Food Safe
How to Interpret the Results When You Return
| The Coin’s Position | What It Means | What You Should Do |
|---|---|---|
| 🪙 On Top | The freezer stayed frozen the entire time. No prolonged power outage occurred. | Your food is SAFE to eat. |
| 🪙 In the Middle | The power was out long enough for the ice to melt partially, but it refroze. | Use CAUTION. The food may be partially thawed. Check items carefully. When in doubt, throw it out. |
| 🪙 At the Bottom | The ice melted completely and the food fully thawed before the power returned. | Your food is UNSAFE. Throw away perishable items to avoid the risk of food poisoning. |
Important Considerations & Limitations
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This is a guideline, not a guarantee. It tells you if a thaw/refreeze event occurred, but you should still use your senses (smell, texture) and a food thermometer to check individual items.
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A full freezer will stay cold longer. A freezer that is mostly full can keep food frozen for about 48 hours during a power outage. A half-full freezer may only last 24 hours.
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It doesn’t prevent outages, but it gives you the information you need to make a smart decision about your food’s safety.
This is a fantastic, low-cost life hack that everyone should use, especially before going on vacation. Share it with your friends and family—it could prevent someone from getting sick!
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