Have your digital clocks ever flashed the wrong time when you returned from a trip, a work trip, or perhaps a weekend away with the family?

It doesn’t take long for you to discover that you had a power outage while you were away, but you can’t really pinpoint when it happened or how long it lasted. The length of time that food in your freezer may have thawed, been ruined, and then been frozen again is therefore also hard to determine.

But is it?

Sheila Pulanco Russell posted a smart tip on her Facebook wall for anyone who had to leave their home because to Hurricane Matthews, which devastated sections of the United States in 2016.

The tip will relieve your mind about whether or not the food in your freezer is safe to consume or should be thrown out straight away, while it is also useful to know in case of any extended absence from your home.

A cup, a coin, and some tap water—three common yet useful items that everyone has at home—are the secret ingredient.

Sheila provides instructions in a Facebook post that garnered tens of thousands of replies and shares right away. She says:

“I just heard a terrific tip for all of you who are fleeing the coast. It is known as the “one cup tip.” Your freezer contains a cup of water. Place a quarter on top after it has been completely frozen, and keep it in your freezer. This will enable you to determine whether your food just went bad and then refroze while you were away or whether it remained frozen when you returned after being evacuated.

The food should be thrown out if the quarter has reached the bottom of the cup, which indicates that it has entirely defrosted. However, your food can still be fine if the quarter is either at the top or in the center of the cup. Keeping this in your freezer all the time would also be a terrific idea, giving you a backup plan in the event of a power outage.

Simply discard your food if you don’t feel good about it. The most important thing is everyone’s safety. Share this on your page, please.

Simple, efficient, and unquestionably cost-effective because you don’t need to throw out a lot of food. Please tell all of your friends about this clever trick!