Keeping ice in a frost-free freezer

[Simpo Two]

The first time it happened I put it down to a lapse of memory on my part, and filled the tray again. Sublime.

But today somebody else asked me for ice, and again the tray was empty. Well not quite, for in the bottom of each well was a small amount of fine off-white dust. I had stumbled on the secret of dehydrated water, a boon for explorers worldwide but particularly in desert areas. To make it into water you take the white powder, add water and stir to reconstitute...

But such Nobel prize-winning breakthroughs aside, what is the secret to keeping ice in a frost-free freezer, apart from using those ugly ice cube bags?

[SimonV8ster]

I wondered why my ice cudes kept dissapearing

[944fan]

The secret is trays with lids on! The last frost free frezzer I bought came with some. Here you go:

https://parts.hotpointservice.co.uk/b2c_ind2/catal...

[Simpo Two]

I wondered if such a thing existed - but the link doesn't work. I'll see what eBay has to offer. Thanks!

[944fan]

Simpo Two said:

I wondered if such a thing existed - but the link doesn't work. I'll see what eBay has to offer. Thanks!

bks - I even checked the link after I posted it. See if this one works:

http://www.buyspares.co.uk/product.pl?pid=400865&a...

[nevgroom]

....ice bags ?

[anonymous-user]

Both of my frost free freezers have no problems with ice cubes in trays??

[Pints]

Thread hijack alert! I'd like to know how to get my ice-cubes not to get - what can only be described as - crumbs on them when kept in the freezer.

[944fan]

Dave_ST220 said:

Both of my frost free freezers have no problems with ice cubes in trays??

You must be the lucky one then. I'm no freezer expert but as I understand it part of how a frost free freezer works is to ciculate the air around the chamber, the moisture then condenses onto the evaporator coils and freezes, a heater element then melts this off peridoically.

If your ice trays are surrounded by stuff and the freezer is quite full then the air can't circulate round and wont evaportate the water from the trays before it freezes.

That could all be complete bks though.

[Simpo Two]

I would have thought the designers, if they planned ahead, would have made the ice cube tray separated from the air circulating system; seems not.

[944fan]

Simpo Two said:

I would have thought the designers, if they planned ahead, would have made the ice cube tray separated from the air circulating system; seems not.

I think then you would end up with a load of frost build up in that area so it would only be a 'partial frost free freezer'. Bit harder to market one of those

[Simpo Two]

I'll wait until the ice freezes and then turn the trays upside down.


However this won't work for the 'integrally-designed central portion specifically shaped for ice cubes as long as you eat them before they sublime into oblivion' tray.

[anonymous-user]

944fan said:

Dave_ST220 said:

Both of my frost free freezers have no problems with ice cubes in trays??

You must be the lucky one then. I'm no freezer expert but as I understand it part of how a frost free freezer works is to ciculate the air around the chamber, the moisture then condenses onto the evaporator coils and freezes, a heater element then melts this off peridoically.

If your ice trays are surrounded by stuff and the freezer is quite full then the air can't circulate round and wont evaportate the water from the trays before it freezes.

That could all be complete bks though.

The one freezer is a beer fridge and empty. Ice cubes are fine in it. One is Zanussi the other AEG. Both came with ice cube trays too!

[Jobbo]

944fan said:

You must be the lucky one then. I'm no freezer expert but as I understand it part of how a frost free freezer works is to ciculate the air around the chamber, the moisture then condenses onto the evaporator coils and freezes, a heater element then melts this off peridoically.

Does it really evaporate significantly at <0C?

ETA: blimey, it sublimates according to Google. Never having had a frost-free freezer I wouldn't have considered it.

Edited by Jobbo on Tuesday 12th April 14:32

[Munter]

nevgroom said:

....ice bags ?

We use them. They work fine.

The odd Ice cube does go flying when getting them out though.

[Simpo Two]

Jobbo said:

ETA: blimey, it sublimates according to Google. Never having had a frost-free freezer I wouldn't have considered it.

Nobody spotted my two references to 'sublime' then!

Sublime means going from solid to vapour without passing through liquid.