As vacation season approaches, many people are preparing to leave their homes for several days or weeks. While you may already have a checklist—lock the doors, set the alarm, unplug electronics there’s one unexpected tip making waves online: leave an upturned glass and a piece of paper in your sink before heading out.
A Clever Hack to Detect a Power Outage
The logic behind this viral tip is actually quite clever. By placing a glass filled with frozen water in your freezer, then putting a piece of paper or coin on top of the ice, you can later determine whether your freezer stopped working during your absence. If the power went out for a significant amount of time—long enough for the ice to melt—the paper or coin will sink into the glass. If it’s still on top when you return, your food likely stayed frozen and safe to eat. Placing the glass in the sink helps contain any potential mess if the freezer fully defrosts and water leaks out.
Why This Matters for Food Safety
A power outage while you’re away could mean that the food in your freezer thawed and then re-froze once power was restored. This is a major concern, especially with meats, dairy, and frozen meals that can spoil quickly and become dangerous to consume—even if they appear solid when you get back. The problem is that you wouldn’t know it happened unless someone told you there was a power cut or you noticed odd smells or food texture. The upturned glass trick provides a clear visual indicator.
How to Set It Up Before You Leave
Setting up this food-safety monitor is easy and takes only a minute:
- Fill a small glass with water and place it in the freezer until the water is completely frozen.
- Place a coin, small piece of paper, or even a plastic token on top of the frozen surface.
- Place the glass upside down (gently) in your kitchen sink or set it upright in the freezer if preferred. The idea is that if the coin has moved to the bottom, you know the ice melted at some point.
- If using the sink method, it may also help detect potential leaks from thawed foods or a malfunctioning freezer.
Added Peace of Mind While You Travel
This small precaution offers peace of mind while you’re enjoying your vacation. Coming home to spoiled food—or worse, food poisoning from unknowingly eating thawed-and-refrozen items—can easily ruin your post-holiday mood. While it may seem like a minor step, it’s especially useful if you’ll be away for an extended period, or if your area is prone to storms or power fluctuations.
Bonus Tips for Vacation-Ready Kitchens
In addition to the glass trick, here are a few more things you can do before leaving:
- Clear out perishables from the fridge.
- Unplug small appliances like toasters and coffee makers.
- Take out the trash to avoid odors and pests.
- Check all taps and appliances to prevent leaks or flooding.
Conclusion: A Simple Trick With Smart Results
Leaving an upturned glass with a coin or paper in your freezer—or sink—is a surprisingly effective way to check if your food remained safe while you were gone. It’s a simple, no-cost trick that takes seconds but could spare you the trouble of guessing whether your frozen food is still safe to eat. When it comes to travel prep, sometimes it’s the small things that make a big difference.
