
Why Do Michigan Residents Swear by This Genius ‘Quarter in the Freezer’ Hack?
Michigan weather can be frigid cold in the winter, blistering hot in the summer, and just plain brutal any time of the year. That's why smart Michigan residents swear by this genius 'Quarter in the Freezer' trick.
I've lived in Michigan my entire life (that's a pretty long time). And while we're not subjected to hurricanes and typically have fewer natural disasters than other states (we're looking at you, Florida, Texas, California, etc.), we do experience more than our fair share of power outages, courtesy of ice, wind, and thunderstorms.
Why Do Michigan Residents Put a Quarter in the Freezer?
Putting a quarter in the freezer doesn't bring good luck, although it may indirectly ward off illness. Let me explain.
The 'Quarter in the Freezer' hack is a great way of knowing if your power has been out or if your freezer(s) have malfunctioned. Here's what you do, courtesy of Reader's Digest.
- Put a cup of water in your freezer and let it freeze solid.
- Put a quarter on top of the ice and put it back in the freezer.
If you return from vacation and your VCR, clock radio, stove, and microwave are flashing 12:00, you'll know that your power was out at some point.
Here's What the Quarter Trick Will Tell You
If the quarter is still on top of the ice, the contents of your freezer remained frozen solid and your food should be safe to eat
If the quarter is now in the middle of the cup (halfway down the ice), the food in your freezer began to thaw and very well may have developed harmful bacteria.
If the quarter is at the bottom of the ice, significant thawing occurred and you should assume that all of the freezer's contents is spoiled and should be thrown away.
Is This a Scientific, Fuool-Proof Method?
The short answer is no. RD consulted with Marion Nestle, a PhD at the Paulette Goddard professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University, who says the trick is 'cute' but unreliable.
Nestle says that because different foods thaw at different rates, there is a significant margin of error.
Remember: When in doubt, throw it out.
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