You have just bought a new home that came with a freezer or perhaps bought a used one, but you will probably want to make sure it is working correctly before you begin stocking it full of your freezer meals. Here is how to ensure your freezer is working perfectly before you find out the hard way.

Get a freezer thermometer so you can guage the temperature. Once the freezer has been running for a few days, check the guage. It should read 0°F to safely be storing frozen meats and other frozen goods.

Once you ensure your freezer is working correctly, fill a plastic container with water and freeze. Then place a penny on the top and return to freezer. You can then watch the penny. If it has sunk below the surface and refrozen on top, you know that your freezer or power supply had a problem and the temperature in your freezer was above the freezing point. This is especially useful if you tend to travel a lot and might not have been aware of any power outtages that occurred.

You will also want to check your freezer's seal to ensure it is working correctly. You can learn how to check your freezer's seal here.