flash freeze

1 of 2

verb

variants or less commonly flash-freeze

ˈflash-ˈfrēz 

flash froze also flash-froze ˈflash-ˈfrōz  ; flash frozen also flash-frozen ˈflash-ˈfrō-zᵊn  ; flash freezing also flash-freezing; flash freezes also flash-freezes

transitive verb

: to freeze rapidly

The physician then inserts a specialized catheter through the endoscope, selects the targeted area and sprays liquid nitrogen to flash freeze the tissue.

—Business Wire

especially : to freeze something (such as food) quickly to minimize the formation of ice crystals

Large catcher-processor vessels that flash freeze shrimp whole … account for the majority of the shrimp catch in Alaska.

—Santi Roberts

The farm stand offers its own produce … ; … flash-frozen wild salmon; local ice cream; and a variety of locally made dressings, honey and condiments.

—Maureen Sullivan

flash freeze

2 of 2

noun

variants or less commonly flash-freeze

plural flash freezes also flash-freezes

: a rapid drop in atmospheric temperature to below the freezing point causing water on the ground to quickly become ice

Temperatures were expected to plummet on Thursday morning leading to a flash freeze.

—Robert Pore

It occurs when there's a rapid drop in temperatures causing a quick freeze of water already on the ground from rain or melted snow. A flash freeze is different from freezing rain, said Becky Kern, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Valley.

—Michael O'Connor

Examples of flash freeze in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Officials claim that the proprietary process of flash freezing the coffee immediately after extraction locks in exceptional freshness and flavor. —Scott Kramer, Forbes, 22 Sep. 2024

Next, flash freeze them individually — as opposed to placing them directly into a freezer safe bag or storage container. —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 11 Aug. 2024

Then, flash freeze the figs by placing them in a single layer on a sheet pan and popping them into the freezer for an hour or two. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 July 2024

The best chances to see that are south of Interstate 94 and east of Interstate 39. Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning is when cold air will move into the area, which the National Weather Service is warning could cause flash freezes during the Wednesday morning commute. —Drew Dawson, Journal Sentinel, 11 June 2024

Place them on a tray and flash freeze until just frozen. —Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 29 May 2024

Roland Emmerich, to his credit, switches it up by flash freezing her like one of those microwavable Green Giant cheddar-broccoli packs in The Day After Tomorrow. —Elle Carroll, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2024

However, as the oceans warm and annual sea ice expansion happens later and later, scientists have found some narwhals are delaying their journey, risking becoming trapped in sea ice with no openings to breathe through if the ice flash freezes in the fall. —Angela Dewan, CNN, 12 Feb. 2024

Frozen fruits and vegetables, for instance, can be flash frozen within hours of being harvested at peak ripeness, allowing those nutrients to be sealed in, Rahaf Al Bochi, RDN, LD, owner of Olive Tree Nutrition LLC and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told Health. —Michelle Pugle, Health, 12 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1941, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1940, in the meaning defined above