Unfrozen freezy pops a bewitched frozen treat

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the puzzling behavior of freezy pops, specifically why some remain unfrozen in a very cold freezer while others freeze solid. Participants explore potential explanations, including manufacturing issues and the effects of supercooling, while considering experimental approaches to investigate the phenomenon further.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • Rob describes the inconsistent freezing of freezy pops, noting that some remain liquid while others freeze solid, even when stored next to each other for extended periods.
  • One participant suggests the phenomenon might be related to supercooling, although Rob notes that agitation does not trigger immediate freezing.
  • Another participant speculates that a manufacturing error could be responsible, possibly due to an additive with a high freezing point.
  • A different viewpoint raises the possibility of ethylene glycol contamination, likening the situation to antifreeze, while also suggesting the presence of warm spots in the freezer as a factor.
  • One participant proposes conducting a controlled experiment to systematically investigate the freezing behavior of the freezy pops, emphasizing the importance of fixed variables.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various hypotheses regarding the unfrozen freezy pops, but no consensus is reached. Multiple competing views remain, and the discussion is unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the need for further investigation and experimentation, but there are limitations regarding assumptions about the manufacturing process and the specific conditions within the freezer.

phubaba
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This is quite the conundrum, and I have yet to talk to anyone with even a sensible answer.

I have a freezer that is extremely cold. Things freeze very quickly, and come out completely frozen. Except freezy pops. ie, "Flavor Ice".

Now at first it may just seem that for some reason the Flavor Ice do not freeze at the temperature of the freezer...HOWEVER...

Out of the box of thirty or so, completely randomly, certain ones will freeze and other ones won't. and they can be right next to each other! For example, today, after being in the freezer for 4 days, I went to get a flavor ice and only 1 out of the 30 was frozen! And the really weird thing is that it is not like mush frozen. It is rock solid, while the rest are completely in liquid state.

Even after 3 or 4 weeks there can be some unfrozen freezy pops. It doesn't make any sense!

Can someone explain?
Eventually all freezy pops freeze, it seems to be completely random and not based on color, and they freeze next to each other, while others are completely unfrozen.

Thanks,
Rob
 
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Supercooling?
 
Aw that was one more thing I wanted to add, agitating them does not cause them to freeze instantly, as would a supercooled object.

-Rob
 
That is strange. My first thoughts are that something went wrong in manufacturing, like too much of a a certain additive that may have a very high freezing point. MMmmm... stumps me.
And I'm not so sure I would eat them.
I would call the manufacturer, explain the situation and see what they have to say.
 
Ethylene glycol has been found in a lot of Chinese made foods. This sure sounds like a case of anti-freeze doing its job.

Then again, maybe you have a warm spot in your freezer. Have you tried moving the box around to different locations?
 
This sounds like a perfect opportunity for some rigorous experimentation.
Set up the experiment with fixed times, locations, numbers etc.
I'd be particularly interested in seeing how the freezies are stacked and which ones froze.
 

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