Unusual coin in the freezer trick can expose if food went off during vacation

A social media hack is helping people check if their freezers are staying the right temperature and preserving food safety, and it involves a penny and a cup

A social media hack is helping people check if their freezers are staying the right temperature and may be affecting food safety.

Many people in the U.S. are living with older fridges, and sometimes can question if freezers are always running properly. A freezer that turns off and on allows food to defrost and freeze, which may compromise the safety of that food, leading to a potential food poisoning issue.

One trick that has been doing the rounds on social media may help people check if their freezers are functioning as they should.

The trick is simple and pretty smart, and can help anyone gauge the functionality of their freezer. All you need is a penny and a cup of water. Let the cup of water freeze, and then put the penny on top.

If you come back to the freezer and the penny sank, you know that the freezer is on the fritz. Be sure to use plastic, not glass, as glass can crack in the freezer, especially when filled with water.

If the penny sank, you may want to check out and chuck certain sensitive foods. Refreezing can affect the quality of food.

Another recent kitchen hack has been making headlines. A recent TikTok revealed the secret to making healthy snacks even more nutritious, which lies in the science of food combinations and their impact on nutrient absorption.

Using tomatoes as an example, Nutritionist Will Bulsiewicz explained that combining them with olive oil, a gut health favorite, can amplify their nutritional benefits. This combination is not only perfect for topping bruschetta but also significantly affects how the body processes tomatoes.

Tomatoes contain lycopene, a fat-soluble antioxidant compound that can protect against heart disease and reduce oxidative stress. However, the body struggles to absorb lycopene unless it’s combined with extra virgin olive oil.

As Will explained, “The fat from the extra virgin olive oil actually helps you to get more of the lycopene from the tomatoes.”

Will also highlighted the concept of synergizing foods to enhance their nutritional benefits, citing the combination of black pepper with turmeric as an example.

Pairing these two common spices together can improve the absorption of curcumin, a powerful anti-inflammatory component found in turmeric.

As explained by the Nutritionist, “We know that turmeric is fantastic for inflammation because of the curcumin in there. But our bodies don’t absorb turmeric very well.”

However, when turmeric is paired with black pepper, absorption is improved due to the presence of piperine in the pepper, which “dramatically increases” curcumin uptake.

This useful advice suggests that adding a pinch of both spices could be a wise choice when preparing your next curry dish.