Freezing Polaroid

**Uri A** · 10-Jan-2012, 00:07

Having hoarded all I can of my beloved FP-100B, I now have to figure out how to store it.

I know most of you freeze your film, but how do you store your instant films? Does freezing rupture the pods?

Thank you!

**Vaughn** · 10-Jan-2012, 00:21

I keep mine in the refrigerator, not the freezer. I have heard that freezing can damage it, but I do not have any solid data.

**Steve Smith** · 10-Jan-2012, 01:05

Do not freeze it. The pods can burst as frozen liquids can take up more space than non-frozen. This is why frozen pipes burst.

Steve.

**Uri A** · 10-Jan-2012, 02:33

Thanks guys. Anyone actually tried it? Maybe I'll sacrifice a partial pack for an experiment ...

**BrianShaw** · 10-Jan-2012, 07:20

Originally Posted by Uri A

Thanks guys. Anyone actually tried it? Maybe I'll sacrifice a partial pack for an experiment ...

Why bother? Please re-read Steve Smith's post and think about the foodstuff that is currently in your freezer. Or freeze a can of soda pop as your experiment. You don't think Polaroid put "do not freeze" on their packaging for no reason at all, do you?

**Uri A** · 10-Jan-2012, 17:58

Ease up on the tone there Brian. Anyone old enough to type knows that liquids expand when frozen.

In my initial post (which you didn't read) I ask: "Does freezing rupture the pods?". Whether or not a frozen bottle will burst depends on how full it is, how flexible it is and what's inside. As to the foodstuff in my freezer (which is exactly what I was thinking of when I posed the question), I freeze almost-full glass bottles of olive oil all the time and they don't burst, because the oil doesn't expand like water.

Nowhere on my packet of FP-100C (which you didn't read) does it say not to freeze the film. I am 80% sure it's a bad idea, but I am trying to get maximum life out of this film, so I am still keen to hear from anyone who actually knows the answer.

Thanks

**Helen Bach** · 10-Jan-2012, 18:19

While discussing the cessation of production of FP-100C45 with a Fuji rep I asked about storage. He recommended the fridge, not the freezer, and storing flat (unlike Polaroid sheet film, which is best stored vertically, standing on the short side).

Best,
Helen

**Uri A** · 10-Jan-2012, 18:32

Thank you very much Helen!

**BrianShaw** · 10-Jan-2012, 21:16

Originally Posted by Uri A

(which you didn't read)...

...so I am still keen to hear from anyone who actually knows the answer.

Yes, Uri... I did read it. Sorry to hear you don't like my "tone" but ...

I have experience. I had some accidentally freeze. The back left corner of my fridge is colder htan the rest and stuff in that area tends to freeze. The pods do not survive freezing.

I have no idea what is on the box of Fuji... and you are correct that I never read the box you posess. I think that perhaps Fuji did an incomplete job of copying Polaroid if they forgot that warning. Did they also forget the "Store flat" warning that was on the Polaroid boxes?