Weather Tidbits: The Freezer Quarter Test

We’ll be discussing the freezer quarter test in this edition of Weather Tidbits. The quarter test is a useful and creative method to use in your freezer after a power outage to determine if your food is fresh and still safe to eat. If you are expecting a power outage, fill a cup with ice and put a quarter on top of the ice. Then put the cup inside the freezer. After the power has returned, take a look at and inside the cup. If the quarter is still on top of the ice, the power is not out for long and the food inside the freezer is still good. If the quarter is on the bottom, that means that the power was out for a significant time and the food is no good. If the quarter is somewhere in the middle, that means that the food inside the freezer may be safe, but the freshness of the food inside the freezer and fridge is iffy.