Whether for a weekend or for a longer duration, it often happens that inappropriate events take place. Moreover, how often have you noticed that the digital clocks of certain appliances are no longer regulated? Indeed, it is not uncommon for power cuts to occur during our absence. If they are prolonged, they can cause a lot of damage, especially to food stored in our freezer. Discover this trick that will let you know if your freezer has stopped working in your absence!
Freezing is a process that allows us to preserve the nutritive qualities and taste quality of our foods while extending their shelf life.
However, there is one condition that must absolutely be respected: do not break the cold chain. Indeed, when a food is frozen, the growth of the natural bacteria it contains is slowed down, but once exposed to a rise in temperature during its thawing phase, these bacteria begin to multiply again very quickly. When the food is cooked, the heat of cooking can destroy these bacteria, but if it is refrozen, it reaches a very high degree of contamination, which makes it toxic if consumed.
How do I know if my freezer has not stopped in my absence?
Cuts in electricity are a more or less common phenomenon. When they last only a few minutes to a few hours, they may have no effect on the contents of our freezers, especially if they remain closed. But when the cut is prolonged, the temperature inside the appliance increases, which causes thawing of the different foods and therefore a bacterial proliferation at their level, rendering them unfit for consumption.
To find out if this has happened or not, while you were out of your home, here is a simple and very effective trick to try.
All you will need is a plastic glass, water and coin. Fill your glass with water and put it in the freezer for a few hours. Once the water is frozen, place the coin on its surface and put it back into the compartment.
Once you have returned from your trip, you will only have to check your small equipment. If the coin is still on the surface of the chilled water, or very slightly below, you can eat your food without worry. This shows that the power outage did not take place or that it was very short.
However, if you find the coin at the bottom of the glass or a little above it, you should throw away the contents of your freezer. Moving the coin downwards shows that the water has been completely or almost thawed before being refreezed.
Another trick to detect power outages
You can also ensure the safety of your frozen food by using another tip, also revealing a power failure. Just take a small plastic bottle, pour a small amount of juice, close it and then put it in the freezer. Once the juice is frozen, take your bottle and place the cap down, in a small plastic cup to hold it in place, then put it back in the freezer. Back at home, just check the location of the juice. If it is still at the bottom of the bottle, so much the better for you. If it has come down to the stopper, it means that it has thawed and sank down. In other words, the cold chain has been broken and your food is no longer healthy to consume.