Have you ever returned home from a vacation, business trip, or even just a weekend getaway, only to find your digital clocks blinking the wrong time?

You quickly realize there was a power outage while you were away, but determining when it happened or how long it lasted is nearly impossible. As a result, it's also hard to know how long the food in your freezer may have thawed, gone bad, and then refrozen.

But is there a way to find out?

During Hurricane Matthews in 2016, which affected parts of the United States, Sheila Pulanco Russell shared a clever trick on her Facebook for anyone who had to evacuate their homes.

This simple method is also useful for anyone who’s been away from home for an extended period and wonders if the food in their freezer is still safe to eat or should be tossed.

The trick involves three basic household items: a mug, a coin, and some tap water. In a Facebook post that garnered hundreds of thousands of reactions and shares, Sheila explained the process:

"For those of you evacuating from the coast, I just learned a great tip. It’s called the ‘one cup tip.’ You fill a cup with water, freeze it solid, and place a quarter on top. Leave it in your freezer. That way, when you return after being away, you can tell if your food thawed completely and then refroze, or if it stayed frozen the whole time.

If the quarter has dropped to the bottom of the cup, it means all the food defrosted and refroze, so you should throw it out. But if the quarter is still on top or in the middle of the cup, the food might still be safe. It’s also a great idea to keep this in your freezer all the time, so if you lose power, you have a quick way to check the status of your food.

If you’re unsure about your food, it’s better to throw it out. The main priority is safety. Please share this on your page.”