As I recall it (memory, of course, being the most convincing of all liars), water that has been boiled, then allowed to cool to the same temperature (say, room temperature) as water that has not been boiled, will freeze faster due to the lower content of gases in solution. When you disolve things in water, the net effect is to lower the freezing point slightly. However, boiled water that is warmer than a tray of cooler water (pre-boiled or otherwise) will take longer to freeze (quantities being equal). The rate at which a body cools depends on the temperature differential between that body and the surroundings.
I’m pretty sure that this is the column that you’re talking about: Which freezes faster, hot water or cold water?, but it’s not a mailbag column.
Is that it?
The column addendum makes the point that the cooling rate also depends upon how much evaporation takes place, as well as depending upon the temperature differential.
Moved to the appropriate forum…