When you get home from a trip, has your digital clock ever been reset? This usually indicates that there was a power outage, but it’s impossible to determine when and how long it lasted, so you can’t be sure if your food is still safe.

On Facebook, a woman by the name of Sheila Pulanco Russell provided a helpful trick for figuring out whether food in your freezer is still edible following a power outage.

I’ve heard a fantastic advice for those of you who are fleeing the coast. The one cup tip is what it’s known as, writes Sheila. “You fill your freezer with a cup of water. Place a quarter on top of it after it has solidified in the freezer and store it there.

This easy tip will tell you whether your food has gone bad. “You should discard the meal if the quarter has defrosted and dropped to the bottom of the cup. However, your food can still be fine if the quarter is either at the top or in the center of the cup.

For piece of mind, Sheila advises keeping the cup in your freezer at all times. “Just toss out the food if it doesn’t make you feel happy. The safety of all is the most important thing.

Kindly forward this advice to your loved ones; it could perhaps save a life.