Chill vs. Freeze — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 2, 2024
Chill refers to cooling something to a moderate extent, usually just below room temperature, while freeze involves cooling to below water's freezing point, solidifying liquids.
Difference Between Chill and Freeze
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Chilling involves reducing the temperature of an item but not to the extent of freezing; it is typically used for food preservation or to enhance the taste of drinks. On the other hand, freezing refers to lowering the temperature below 0°C (32°F), turning liquids into solids.
When you chill something, it remains in its original state but feels cold to the touch, ideal for beverages or fresh produce. Whereas, freezing transforms the physical state, often used for long-term storage of foods.
The process of chilling is quicker to reverse, as items can return to room temperature without significant impact on texture or quality. However, thawing frozen items can sometimes alter their texture or cause loss of flavor and moisture.
Chilling is often done in a refrigerator, where the temperature is kept above freezing to keep items cool but not frozen. Freeze storage requires a freezer, where temperatures are kept at or below the freezing point to solidify and preserve contents.
Chill techniques are commonly used in culinary settings to prepare ingredients or enhance flavor, such as chilling a salad plate. On the other hand, freezing is essential in industrial applications, such as preserving biological samples or in the production of ice cream.
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Comparison Chart
Temperature Range
Above 0°C (32°F)
Below 0°C (32°F)
State Change
No
Yes, from liquid to solid
Common Usage
Drinks, fresh foods
Long-term food storage
Equipment
Refrigerator
Freezer
Impact on Texture
Minimal
Often significant
Compare with Definitions
Chill
To make something moderately cold without freezing.
They chilled the wine to the perfect temperature.
Freeze
To lower the temperature of something below the freezing point of water.
Freeze the leftovers to eat them later.
Chill
The act of cooling in a refrigerator.
Chill the dough for an hour before rolling it out.
Freeze
The setting of a freezer to maintain its contents at solid state.
Make sure the freezer is set to freeze properly.
Chill
An unpleasant feeling of coldness in the atmosphere, one's surroundings, or the body
The draughty chill of the castle
There was a chill in the air
Heat exhaustion symptoms include nausea, chills, dizziness and dehydration
Freeze
To pass from the liquid to the solid state by loss of heat.
Chill
A metal mould, often cooled, designed to ensure rapid or even cooling of metal during casting.
Freeze
To acquire a surface or coat of ice from cold
The lake froze over in January. Bridges freeze before the adjacent roads.
Chill
Make (someone) cold
They were chilled by a sudden wind
Freeze
To become clogged or jammed because of the formation of ice
The pipes froze in the basement.
Chill
Horrify or frighten (someone)
The city was chilled by the violence
Freeze
To be at that degree of temperature at which ice forms
It may freeze tonight.
Chill
Calm down and relax
They like to get home, have a bath, and chill out
Freeze
To be killed or harmed by cold or frost
They almost froze to death. Mulch keeps garden plants from freezing.
Chill
Chilly
The chill grey dawn
The chill winds of public censure
Freeze
To be or feel uncomfortably cold
Aren't you freezing without a coat?.
Chill
Very relaxed or easy-going
The island is really chill and laid-back
In general, I am a pretty chill guy
Freeze
To become fixed, stuck, or attached by or as if by frost
The lock froze up with rust.
Chill
A moderate but penetrating coldness.
Freeze
To stop functioning properly, usually temporarily
My computer screen froze when I opened the infected program.
Chill
A sensation of coldness, often accompanied by shivering and pallor of the skin.
Freeze
To become motionless or immobile, as from surprise or attentiveness
I heard a sound and froze in my tracks.
Chill
A checking or dampening of enthusiasm, spirit, or joy
Bad news that put a chill on the celebration.
Freeze
To become unable to act or speak, as from fear
Froze in front of the audience.
Chill
A sudden numbing fear or dread.
Freeze
To become rigid and inflexible; solidify
An opinion that froze into dogma.
Chill
Moderately cold; chilly
A chill wind.
Freeze
To convert into ice.
Chill
Not warm and friendly; distant
A chill greeting.
Freeze
To cause ice to form upon.
Chill
Discouraging; dispiriting
“Chill penury repressed their noble rage” (Thomas Gray).
Freeze
To cause to congeal or stiffen from extreme cold
Winter cold that froze the ground.
Chill
(Slang) Calm or relaxed
“As my meditation routine grew more stable...my already laid-back demeanor grew positively chill” (David Gelles).
Freeze
To preserve (foods, for example) by subjecting to freezing temperatures.
Chill
To affect with or as if with cold.
Freeze
To damage, kill, or make inoperative by cold or by the formation of ice.
Chill
To lower in temperature; cool.
Freeze
To make very cold; chill.
Chill
To make discouraged; dispirit.
Freeze
To immobilize, as with fear or shock.
Chill
(Metallurgy) To harden (a metallic surface) by rapid cooling.
Freeze
To chill with an icy or formal manner
Froze me with one look.
Chill
To be seized with cold.
Freeze
To stop the motion or progress of
The negotiations were frozen by the refusal of either side to compromise.
Froze the video in order to discuss the composition of the frame.
Chill
To become cold or set
Jelly that chills quickly.
Freeze
To fix (prices or wages, for example) at a given or current level.
Chill
(Metallurgy) To become hard by rapid cooling.
Freeze
To prohibit further manufacture or use of.
Chill
To calm down or relax. Often used with out.
Freeze
To prevent or restrict the exchange, withdrawal, liquidation, or granting of by governmental action
Freeze investment loans during a depression.
Froze foreign assets held by US banks.
Chill
To pass time idly; loiter.
Freeze
To anesthetize by chilling.
Chill
To spend time with someone in a relaxed manner; hang out together.
Freeze
(Sports) To keep possession of (a ball or puck) so as to deny an opponent the opportunity to score.
Chill
A moderate, but uncomfortable and penetrating coldness.
There was a chill in the air.
Freeze
The act of freezing.
Chill
A sudden penetrating sense of cold, especially one that causes a brief trembling nerve response through the body; the trembling response itself; often associated with illness: fevers and chills, or susceptibility to illness.
Close the window or you'll catch a chill.
I felt a chill when the wind picked up.
Freeze
The state of being frozen.
Chill
An uncomfortable and numbing sense of fear, dread, anxiety, or alarm, often one that is sudden and usually accompanied by a trembling nerve response resembling the body's response to biting cold.
Despite the heat, he felt a chill as he entered the crime scene.
The actor's eerie portrayal sent chills through the audience.
His menacing presence cast a chill over everyone.
Freeze
A spell of cold weather; a frost.
Chill
An iron mould or portion of a mould, serving to cool rapidly, and so to harden, the surface of molten iron brought in contact with it..
Freeze
A restriction that forbids a quantity from rising above a given or current level
A freeze on city jobs.
A proposed freeze on the production of nuclear weapons.
Chill
The hardened part of a casting, such as the tread of a carriage wheel.
Freeze
Especially of a liquid, to become solid due to low temperature.
The lake froze solid.
Chill
A lack of warmth and cordiality; unfriendliness.
Freeze
(transitive) To lower something's temperature to the point that it freezes or becomes hard.
Don't freeze meat twice.
Chill
Calmness; equanimity.
Freeze
(intransitive) To drop to a temperature below zero degrees celsius, where water turns to ice.
It didn't freeze this winter, but last winter was very harsh.
Chill
A sense of style; trendiness; savoir faire.
Freeze
To be affected by extreme cold.
It's freezing in here!
Don't go outside wearing just a t-shirt; you'll freeze!
Chill
Moderately cold or chilly.
A chill wind was blowing down the street.
Freeze
(intransitive) (of machines and software) To come to a sudden halt, stop working (functioning).
Since the last update, the program freezes after a few minutes of use.
Chill
Unwelcoming; not cordial.
Arriving late at the wedding, we were met with a chill reception.
Freeze
(intransitive) (of people and other animals) To stop (become motionless) or be stopped due to attentiveness, fear, surprise, etc.
Despite all of the rehearsals, I froze as soon as I got on stage.
Chill
(slang) Calm, relaxed, easygoing.
The teacher is really chill and doesn't care if you use your phone during class.
Paint-your-own ceramics studios are a chill way to express yourself while learning more about your date's right brain.
Freeze
(transitive) To cause someone to become motionless.
Chill
(slang) "Cool"; meeting a certain hip standard or garnering the approval of a certain peer group.
That new movie was chill, man.
Freeze
(figuratively) To lose or cause to lose warmth of feeling; to shut out; to ostracize.
Over time, he froze towards her, and ceased to react to her friendly advances.
Chill
(slang) Okay, not a problem.
Sorry about that. —It's chill.
Freeze
To cause loss of animation or life in, from lack of heat; to give the sensation of cold to; to chill.
Chill
(transitive) To lower the temperature of something; to cool.
Chill before serving.
Freeze
(transitive) To prevent the movement or liquidation of a person's financial assets
The court froze the criminal's bank account.
Chill
(intransitive) To become cold.
In the wind he chilled quickly.
Freeze
Of prices, spending etc., to keep at the same level, without any increase.
Chill
To harden a metal surface by sudden cooling.
Freeze
(Internet) To prevent from showing any visible change.
Some websites, such as YouTube, deliberately freeze the view count, intended to deter attempts to game the system.
Chill
To become hard by rapid cooling.
Freeze
A period of intensely cold weather.
Chill
To relax; to lie back.
Chill, man, we've got a whole week to do it; no sense in getting worked up.
The new gym teacher really has to chill or he's gonna blow a gasket.
Freeze
A halt of a regular operation.
Chill
To "hang", hang out; to spend time with another person or group.
Hey, we should chill this weekend.
Freeze
(computer) The state when either a single computer program, or the whole system ceases to respond to inputs.
Chill
To smoke marijuana.
On Friday night do you wanna chill?
Freeze
(curling) A precise draw weight shot where a delivered stone comes to a stand-still against a stationary stone, making it nearly impossible to knock out.
Chill
To discourage, depress.
Censorship chills public discourse.
Freeze
A block on pay rises or on the hiring of new employees etc.
A hiring freeze;
A pay freeze
Chill
A moderate but disagreeable degree of cold; a disagreeable sensation of coolness, accompanied with shivering.
Freeze
A frieze.
Chill
A sensation of cold with convulsive shaking of the body, pinched face, pale skin, and blue lips, caused by undue cooling of the body or by nervous excitement, or forming the precursor of some constitutional disturbance, as of a fever.
Freeze
The act of congealing, or the state of being congealed.
Chill
A check to enthusiasm or warmth of feeling; discouragement; as, a chill comes over an assembly.
Freeze
To become congealed by cold; to be changed from a liquid to a solid state by the abstraction of heat; to be hardened into ice or a like solid body.
Chill
An iron mold or portion of a mold, serving to cool rapidly, and so to harden, the surface of molten iron brought in contact with it.
Freeze
To become chilled with cold, or as with cold; to suffer loss of animation or life by lack of heat; as, the blood freezes in the veins.
Chill
The hardened part of a casting, as the tread of a car wheel.
Freeze
To congeal; to harden into ice; to convert from a fluid to a solid form by cold, or abstraction of heat.
Chill
Moderately cold; tending to cause shivering; chilly; raw.
Noisome winds, and blasting vapors chill.
Freeze
To cause loss of animation or life in, from lack of heat; to give the sensation of cold to; to chill.
A faint, cold fear runs through my veins,That almost freezes up the heat of life.
A railroad which had a London connection must not be allowed to freeze out one that had no such connection.
It is sometimes a long time before a player who is frozen out can get into a game again.
Chill
Affected by cold.
Freeze
The withdrawal of heat to change something from a liquid to a solid
Chill
Characterized by coolness of manner, feeling, etc.; lacking enthusiasm or warmth; formal; distant; as, a chill reception.
Freeze
Weather cold enough to cause freezing
Chill
Discouraging; depressing; dispiriting.
Freeze
An interruption or temporary suspension of progress or movement;
A halt in the arms race
A nuclear freeze
Chill
To strike with a chill; to make chilly; to cause to shiver; to affect with cold.
When winter chilled the day.
Freeze
Fixing (of prices or wages etc) at a particular level;
A freeze on hiring
Chill
To check enthusiasm or warmth of feeling of; to depress; to discourage.
Every thought on God chills the gayety of his spirits.
Freeze
Change to ice;
The water in the bowl froze
Chill
To produce, by sudden cooling, a change of crystallization at or near the surface of, so as to increase the hardness; said of cast iron.
Freeze
Stop moving or become immobilized;
When he saw the police car he froze
Chill
To become surface-hardened by sudden cooling while solidifying; as, some kinds of cast iron chill to a greater depth than others.
Freeze
Be cold;
I could freeze to death in this office when the air conditioning is turned on
Chill
Coldness due to a cold environment
Freeze
Cause to freeze;
Freeze the leftover food
Chill
An almost pleasurable sensation of fright;
A frisson of surprise shot through him
Freeze
Stop a process or a habit by imposing a freeze on it;
Suspend the aid to the war-torn country
Chill
A sensation of cold that often marks the start of an infection and the development of a fever
Freeze
Be very cold, below the freezing point;
It is freezing in Kalamazoo
Chill
A sudden numbing dread
Freeze
Change from a liquid to a solid when cold;
Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit
Chill
Depress or discourage;
The news of the city's surrender chilled the soldiers
Freeze
Prohibit the conversion or use of (assets);
Blocked funds
Freeze the assets of this hostile government
Chill
Make cool or cooler;
Chill the food
Freeze
Anesthetize by cold
Chill
Loose heat;
The air cooled considerably after the thunderstorm
Freeze
Suddenly behave coldly and formally;
She froze when she saw her ex-husband
Chill
Uncomfortably cool;
A chill wind
Chilly weather
Freeze
The process of turning a liquid into a solid by cold.
The pond will freeze overnight due to the low temperatures.
Chill
To cool something to a lower but not frozen temperature.
Chill the dessert before serving to enhance its flavor.
Freeze
To preserve by freezing.
They freeze their garden vegetables to maintain freshness.
Chill
A state of coldness that is noticeable but not extreme.
There was a slight chill in the air that evening.
Freeze
A halt in movement or activity due to cold or shock.
He froze in place when he saw the bear.
Chill
To relax or calm down.
I'm just going to chill at home this weekend.
Common Curiosities
What is the primary difference between chilling and freezing?
Chilling cools items above the freezing point, while freezing involves temperatures below 0°C (32°F) to solidify liquids.
Can chilling affect the texture of food?
Chilling has minimal impact on texture, unlike freezing which can significantly alter it.
Is it safe to eat chilled food after it has been left out?
Chilled food should be consumed or refrigerated within 2 hours of being at room temperature to prevent bacterial growth.
How long can food be kept frozen without losing quality?
Most frozen foods maintain quality for 3 to 6 months, though they remain safe to eat.
Why might someone choose to freeze food?
Freezing is used for long-term preservation, as it stops bacterial growth by solidifying water content.
How do chilling and freezing impact the flavor of food?
Chilling can enhance flavor by making it more refreshing, while freezing may reduce flavor quality due to changes in texture and moisture content.
What is the ideal setting on a home freezer for effective freezing?
Home freezers should be set to at least -18°C (0°F) for effective freezing.
What types of foods are typically chilled rather than frozen?
Beverages and fresh produce are commonly chilled to enhance their taste or preserve freshness without freezing.
What is a common household appliance for chilling?
A refrigerator is commonly used for chilling food and drinks.
For what purpose chill techniques are used?
Chill techniques are commonly used in culinary settings to prepare ingredients or enhance flavor, such as chilling a salad plate.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
