# Does stuff cool faster in the freezer than in the fridge?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-stuff-cool-faster-in-the-freezer-than-in-the-fridge/498604>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [June 3, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-stuff-cool-faster-in-the-freezer-than-in-the-fridge/498604 "2009-06-03T17:50:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Slopoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Slopoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slopoke)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-stuff-cool-faster-in-the-freezer-than-in-the-fridge/498604/21 "2009-06-08T22:52:05Z")

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Alright mates…  
The other thing to consider is that while the convection between air and aluminium is the main source of heat transfer, the freezer, being the smaller of the compartments in your fridge, moves air faster.  
Your refrigerator cabinet uses a diverter of air to the refrigeration cabinet, and a thermostat as the refrigeration control. As you turn the refrigeration knob towards “cool” - the diverter channels a higher volume of air to the lower cabinet, thus allowing the heat to be transfered out of the cabinet a bit faster.  
The maximum amount of air - per volumetric spacing - is in the freezer, thus one set of evaporator coils coils both cabinets.  
I suggest you have a cold one and think about that.😃  
Cheers…

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**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-stuff-cool-faster-in-the-freezer-than-in-the-fridge/498604/22 "2009-06-09T22:50:42Z")

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\*\*md2000 \*\* said:

> [@](#):
>
> Even plain ice-water will set and keep the delta-T at a good point; which is why icewater immersion is the usual way to keep drinks cold outside of a fridge, something you tend to see at various outdoor functions.

You make that sound like something exotic, as opposed to a cooler. 😉

Mythbusters did the comparative test, using ice water, salt ice water, refrigerator, freezer, and a couple other oddities. Salt ice bath is best, ice water is better than freezer. Freezer is better than fridge.

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