“There are a few very dangerous things in your freezer — you should remove them immediately!” the refrigerator repairman warned, sending chills down my spine.

A small refrigerator issue completely startled me. Not long ago, the door gasket on my fridge was damaged, causing the freezer to leak water. When the technician came to fix it, he not only replaced the gasket but also said something I’ll never forget: “There are a few very dangerous things in your freezer — it’s best to take them out right away.”

It sounds unbelievable, but according to him, many people unknowingly place items in the freezer that should never be there — they can damage the appliance, and worse, pose explosion or injury risks. Here are 4 things you should absolutely never store in the freezer. Check your fridge today.

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1. Glass containers and glass bottles

Many people prepare chopped onions, garlic, herbs, and store them in glass containers in the freezer for convenience. However, this habit is extremely dangerous.

Glass becomes brittle at low temperatures and can crack easily. If the container holds liquid (water, broth, soup), it expands as it freezes, causing the container or bottle to explode.

Shattered glass can injure your hands and also damage the cooling coils and aluminum lining inside the freezer, causing rapid deterioration. Instead, always use cold-resistant plastic containers designed for freezing.

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2. Dry ice

When buying seafood or ice cream, many stores include dry ice for preservation — and people often toss it into the freezer. This is essentially a ticking time bomb.

Dry ice is solid CO₂ and sublimates at –78.5°C, while the average freezer temperature is only around –18°C. Once placed inside, it rapidly releases CO₂ gas.

With the freezer door closed, the gas becomes trapped, increasing pressure and potentially leading to the freezer door bursting open or damaging the cooling system.

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3. Carbonated drinks, beer, and bottled beverages

To chill drinks faster, many people put soda, beer, or carbonated beverages into the freezer — but this is very dangerous.

Carbonated drinks contain a high level of dissolved CO₂. As the liquid begins to freeze, its volume expands, causing internal pressure to spike. This can result in bottles exploding and shattering inside the freezer.

Many people have opened the freezer only to have a beer bottle explode, sending glass shards into their hands or face. Besides injuries, the blast can break plastic drawers, tear seals, and damage the freezer interior.

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4. Wet food that hasn’t been drained

The habit of “washing and putting food straight into the freezer” seems harmless, but it silently harms the appliance.

Vegetables, meat, fish, and fruit that still contain water quickly freeze on the surface and stick to the walls or shelves inside the freezer. When trying to pull them out, users may crack trays, tear insulation, or damage the cooling coils.

Additionally, the buildup of ice obstructs airflow, making the freezer run longer, waste more electricity, and shorten its lifespan.

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Technician’s advice

These four items may seem minor, but they are silent killers for your freezer. If yours contains any of these, remove them today.

Before placing anything in the freezer, make sure:

✅ Food is stored in cold-resistant plastic containers or freezer-safe zip bags
✅ Items are fully drained and contain no compressed gas or volatile substances
✅ The compartment isn’t packed too tightly so cold air can circulate properly

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