Why do some people store batteries in the freezer? Should you store batteries in the freezer? Ask Science looks into the deep freeze.
A few days ago I needed to replace the batteries in an electronic game. So I went to the place where our family has always stored our batteries, the place where every generation of Falin has stored it's batteries for as long as I can remember: the kitchen freezer.
As I was wiping off the thin layer of frost from the batteries’ contacts, my wife asked me why we always kept the batteries in the freezer. At first I was tempted to attribute her lack of knowledge of Falin battery lore to the fact that she had only been part of our frozen battery dynasty for a scant 10 years, hardly long enough to truly appreciate the subtleties of battery storage.
But as I thought about how to answer such a question, I was confronted with a startling realization: I had no idea. Surely years of tradition, an entire dynasty's adherence to the principles of safe battery storage couldn't be wrong! I sighed as I realized there was only one thing to do: I had to find out the truth for myself. Does storing batteries in the freezer really extend their shelf life?
