NORFOLK, Va. — Whether it's a severe thunderstorm, an ice storm, or any dangerous weather phenomenon: severe weather can cause a power outage. But what if you're going to be away and aren't sure if you lost power? Is there a way to tell if the food in your freezer or fridge is still OK to consume? Well, there's the quarter test.
It's simple but effective and all you need to do is fill up a cup of water, freeze it, and then place a quarter on top of the ice.
When you place a quarter on top of the ice, it serves as a marker. If the quarter, which was initially on top of the ice but is now within or at the bottom of the newly formed ice, you now have a clear indicator that the ice has melted and refrozen, signaling that a power outage occurred.
If the quarter is still on the top and power wasn't out for long, then the food is still good to eat. But if the quarter is at the bottom of the cup, you'll know the power was out for a significant period of time and it's likely all of the food in the fridge and freezer is not good to consume.
However, if the quarter ends up frozen somewhere in the middle of the cup, the food in the freezer is likely still good to eat but the food in the fridge... that's more of an iffy situation.
So, if you're ever going away and want to know if an outage occurred, this method would help you know that the contents of your freezer were exposed to higher temperatures and may no longer be safe to consume. This can help you make informed decisions about food safety, potentially preventing foodborne illnesses.
