Don’t Use Breakable Cups for the Freezer Test

Each Friday, we feature a reader-submitted tip as our Travel Tip of the Day. This week’s tip comes from reader Joseph G., who adds an important addendum to last week’s tip:

“The method of testing if your freezer has unknowingly gone through a defrost cycle is spot-on except for one thing. If you ‘freeze a mug of water’ you run the risk of cracking a ceramic or glass mug during the freezing process.

I have first-hand knowledge of someone who placed several mugs of water into the freezer, hoping for some large ice cubes. Unfortunately, the majority of them had cracked when the water froze and the ice expanded. Water expands approximately 11% when it freezes.

Try this with a plastic or paper cup. Better yet, use an old-fashioned ice cube tray and nickels. You can pick an inexpensive ice cube tray at your local dollar store. You don’t want to destroy the ‘WORLD’S GREATEST MOM’ mug by accident.”

Thanks, Joseph! I just wish you’d sent in this tip a few hours earlier! That way, I’d still have one of my wife’s favorite tea mugs!

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