Science question...

[fulabeer]

Ok brainiacs, what is the faster way to cool my can of beer.

Scenario:
Wife buys my beer from supermarket, but forgets to put cans of beer in the fridge.
I come home from work on the hottest day of the year, only to find out I have warm beer.

So assuming the cans of beer are about 20C, what is the faster way of the two options of cooling them down to around 3-4C.

Putting them in the fridge which is set to 3C
Or
Putting them in the freezer which is set to -20C

Now I know it seems obvious that the freezer is cooler so will chill the cans faster. But I seem to remember reading somewhere that the cans will only chill at the same rate regardless of the surrounding temperature.
At some point, the freezer will start to freeze the cans, so they will end up cooler. But will they chill to 3-4C quicker in the freezer?

I know there are faster methods to cool the cans like blast freezing and immersing in chilled water. But for now, try to stick to the original question. This could save my life one day (or the wife's!)

 

[Uncle Wally One Ball]

 

[mindmyp's_n_q's]

Bigger the difference in temperature the faster the heat transfer. Get them in the freezer.

 

[Gelsons Dad]

 

[blueinsa]

Freezer every time.

Oh and a new fucking wife!

 

[Tuearts right boot]

Watched a bit of the trailer so dont know exactly what was going. I hear that if you put the cans in a bucket of ice and then mix loads of salt in it the thawing effect draws heat from the cans thus reducing the temperature even quicker. Failing that, try the kitchen favourite liquid nitrogen

 

[jayfx]

That guy on the trailer is far too annoying to watch the whole clip!
But it's definitely the freezer for me. Don't know about the exact degree but 10 minutes in the freezer and the beer's cold enough to drink. 10 minutes in the fridge and it aint.
A lad in the offie once suggested I wrap a wet tea towel around the can, then put it in the freezer. I've never tried it but sounds like it could work and he reckons that it works for him.

 

[Kippax.]

Fridge = 2hrs
Freezer = 20 min
Getting off your arse and go to the shops for fresh cans you moaning old fart = 5 mins

 

[Damocles]

Stick it in ice with water and salt. Salt will lower the freezing point of water, which makes the ice melt faster and drops the temperature of the water cooler quicker (as it will find an equilibrium between the temperature it is and the frozen water coming out of the ice). If you want a fast chill this is your best bet and you can experiment with the quantity of salt needed.

Alternatively in an emergency, wrap it in kitchen towel, dunk it in the sink then stick it in the freezer.

The problem with the freezer with cans/bottles is that air has really shit thermal conductivity so the heat that is trying to escape from the surface takes longer. Wrapping it in some sort of wet cloth means that heat can transfer out through water much quicker than just straight through the air. About twice as quick if memory serves.
If you want to get even more extreme/stupid, those little marble candle holders can fit a bottle inside of them and will chill it 10 times quicker than air if you could get it tight enough.

 

[foetus]

Alternatively in an emergency, wrap it in kitchen towel, dunk it in the sink then stick it in the freezer.

This. Quickest and easiest method.

 

[Mustard Dave]

Some advice here: