Popice won't freeze for some reason

UglyCasanova

Lifer
Mar 25, 2001
19,275
1,361
126
It's the craziest thing, Friday evening I stuck a bag of Popice (I think was the brand) popsicles in the freezer and they won't freeze. I've made multiple trays of ice since then no problem, and they are all frozen solid. The popsicles for the most part just won't freeze.

The rubber seal on the door is old and there is a crack in it so some cold air is leaking through that and I'm sure the insulation in the wall panels aren't worth anything (it's really old and cheap) but why would the ice freeze and remain frozen but the popsicles won't freeze at all.

There are maybe 4 exceptions out of the pack of 50 that did freeze, and they aren't all in the same place in the stack of them nor the same color.
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
Your freezer isn't cold enough. Popsicles have lots of sugar in them so they need to be colder than 32F to freeze.
 

WHAMPOM

Diamond Member
Feb 28, 2006
7,628
183
106
Ice cube trays are open and loose heat faster. Placed in a bunch pop-ice takes a long time to freeze solid. Spread them out and they will freeze quicker. Also some may be super cooled but in need of a "pinch" to turn solid. I have picked one (clear and liquid)out of the freezer and watched the ice crystals "bloom" from the point of contact.
 

Rakehellion

Lifer
Jan 15, 2013
12,181
35
91
Or if you'r feeling lazy, you can put a 120mm case fan in the freezer blowing cold air all over them and see how they fare.
 

Rakehellion

Lifer
Jan 15, 2013
12,181
35
91
Yep. Posicles are a good insulator.

If you had a big bucket of water in the freezer, convection would cause the water to swirl around and cool more evenly. Water in little baggies can't swirl.
 

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
19
81
put a thermometer in your fridge
Oh god no. That'll just make it even more difficult.


I mean, have you seen the math that has to be done to determine how long it takes for a measuring device (well, object really) to reasonably reach equilibrium? It's got like, calculus and a bunch of dead mathematician and scientist names attached to it.








(No, I haven't had to do that type of thermal calculation since college, thank you for asking.)
:colbert:


.
 

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
19
81
I've filled a freezer to maximum capacity with popsicles. They freeze just fine.
So you're saying that the thermal "conveyor belt" was working properly, and that your freezer was therefore cold with solution of sugar? :hmm:
 

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
10
81
Maybe there aren't any nucleation sites inside the plastic pouches for the ice to begin forming.
 

BUTCH1

Lifer
Jul 15, 2000
20,433
1,769
126
I've had the same problem and my freezer will freeze ice cubes in about 1,5 hours, best thing to try is to spread them out.
 

Paperdoc

Platinum Member
Aug 17, 2006
2,412
331
126
The very first response, from Leros, has the right answer. It is a result of a phenomenon in Physical Chemistry called Freezing Point Depression. When you dissolve something in water, in the vast majority of cases the result is that the solution will freeze only at a LOWER temperature than pure water. Exactly how much lower depends on two things: the nature of the solute you added, and its concentration in the resulting solution. Every material has its own unique Molal Freezing Point Depression Constant. And, the more you dissolve in the solution, the more you reduce (depress) the Freezing Point. So, a very strong solution of sugar in water must be cooled to a much lower temperature than 32F to make it freeze, and apparently your old freezer is not cold enough for these products.

Most of the other replies are about the RATE at which you can cool the popice down. But unless you can get it really cold, the rate of cooling does not matter at all.

By the way, for this reason standard "pop" or carbonated beverages containing substantial sugar do not freeze just below 32 F, but diet beverages will. Why? Because the diet ones have no sugar and very little other stuff dissolved in them, so their Freezing Points are almost the same as plain water.
 
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waffleironhead

Diamond Member
Aug 10, 2005
6,997
499
136
I've filled a freezer to maximum capacity with popsicles. They freeze just fine.

same here. I buy 4 boxes when they go on sale and put all of them in the freezer. They freeze just fine right in the box.

Op adjust your freezer temp.
 

Newell Steamer

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2014
6,894
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0
The rubber seal on the door is old and there is a crack in it so some cold air is leaking through that and I'm sure the insulation in the wall panels aren't worth anything (it's really old and cheap) but why would the ice freeze and remain frozen but the popsicles won't freeze at all.

Step #1; move out of the crack den you seem to be currently living in.
 

Schneidm

Junior Member
Jun 18, 2019
2
1
6
Wow. A discussion that interests me from 2014. I have same problem in a good freezer that measures 13.8 degrees Fahrenheit with an independent thermometer. There must tons of sugar in these popsicles if that ain’t cold enough to freeze them. I’d say 10% are frozen. The rest are not and handling them makes no difference. They have been in the freezer for 3 days.
 
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Schneidm

Junior Member
Jun 18, 2019
2
1
6
I have since learned 13.8 degrees is actually too warm for a freezer. Should be 0 to 5 degrees F. So I am dealing with a larger problem.
 

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
50,879
4,267
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I have since learned 13.8 degrees is actually too warm for a freezer. Should be 0 to 5 degrees F. So I am dealing with a larger problem.

Much much too warm. My frost free is 0F and my upright freezer in the basement is -20F.
 

Ken g6

Programming Moderator, Elite Member
Moderator
Dec 11, 1999
16,481
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I have since learned 13.8 degrees is actually too warm for a freezer. Should be 0 to 5 degrees F. So I am dealing with a larger problem.
I'll assume you can't afford a new freezer. If so, you can try:

https://www.wikihow.com/Replace-a-Refrigerator-Door-Seal

(It says you can fix a seal with petroleum jelly - sometimes.)

If that's not enough, you could try:

https://www.homedepot.com/b/Building-Materials-Insulation-Foam-Board-Insulation/N-5yc1vZbaxx

Probably on the outside. And well away from the coils.
 

crmcorn65

Junior Member
Dec 26, 2022
1
0
6
Really old post, but I'm having the same problem with Wyler's Italian Ice. My freezer is fine and only a year old. Everything else in my freezer is frozen, but only about half of these are frozen, and some are at the liquid stage after being in the freezer for 6 days. The seal on my door is just fine, so I'm assuming something is wrong with the product. I bought 2 boxes, and the first box was just fine, and they're not expired either!