Freezing food: why is it wise to put a coin in the chest?

The American Sheila Pulanco Russell from Lumberton, North Carolina came up with a completely simple trick that tells us what happened to the frozen foods in the freezer while we were not at home. Read her advice.

Americans often face natural disasters caused by hurricanes, and she is an American woman for all of them Sheila Pulanco Russell published a very handy trick on Facebook, with the help of which they will know what happened during the evacuation with frozen foods in the freezer. Although we do not face hurricanes that would drive us from our homes, the advice can be very useful when we go on vacation, for some other reason we are away for a long time or if the power goes out. So what is her secret?

For this simple trick you need a cup, water and a coin. Photo: Sheila Pulanco Russel Facebook — For this simple trick you need a cup, water and a coin. (Photo: Sheila Pulanco Russel Facebook)

For the trick with which we control the condition of frozen foods, we need:

a cup
water
a coin

Place the cup full of water in the freezer for enough time for the water to freeze. Then put a coin on the ice and put the cup back in the freezer. If the coin is still on top of the ice when we return home, then this means that the food did not thaw during our absence. If the coin is in the middle of the ice, it means that there was a power outage in the meantime, but the freezer has started working again. If the coin is at the bottom of the ice, the food has most likely completely thawed and refrozen in the meantime. But what does freezing and refreezing really mean for the (un)corruption of food?

When thawing, the meat loses its quality and changes its texture. Photo: Shutterstock — When thawing, meat loses quality and changes texture. (Photo: Shutterstock)

How dangerous are refrozen foods really?

The main factor affecting the chemical and biochemical properties of frozen foods is the movement of water. Slovenian National Institute of Public Health he writes about freezing in general as follows: "Water loss is the biggest problem, as it is often the main and limiting reason for the durability of frozen food. Also interesting are the changes in nutritional values as a result of the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids, which become nutritionally inadequate. Even minor changes in fatty acids cause noticeable changes in the brightness of the product. The reduction of the vitamin content during freezing also has a significant impact on the nutritional value of the product, although comparisons of different preservation processes have shown that it is freezing that reduces the vitamin content of the food the least."

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It is therefore most important to pack food in permeable packaging to prevent drying out. NIJZ it also advises that food be packed in as small pieces as possible to thaw them faster, and also that thawed food be used immediately. "We must not refreeze thawed foods," are the clear instructions of the institute.

What is right and wrong when it comes to freezing food?

British Food Quality Agency (FSA) points to another important aspect. That we throw away too much food because we believe some myths about food freezing. What is true and what is not?

Food can be refrozen if it is thoroughly toasted before refreezing.
We don't need to freeze food when we buy it. It can be frozen just before the expiration date.
It is not true that some foods should not be frozen. We can freeze any food.
Once food is thawed, it is good to eat it within 24 hours. That's why it's good to freeze smaller amounts of food.
Food can only be thawed in the microwave if it is to be eaten immediately. Food should never be reheated repeatedly.
Always keep meat in a separate freezer compartment, as bacteria can be transferred to other foods during thawing.