Disturbing technology: the defrost-o-plate
A few years ago, my dad bought a mad thing from JML (they advertise on TV and their slogan should be “we sell weird shit for your house”). I dubbed it the defrost-o-plate: it claimed to defrost food in record time, without heat. Bollocks! I cried. My dad showed me it in action. I bought one for myself.
My defrost-o-plate (I’ve no idea what it’s officially called) is a rectangular metal tray, painted matt black, with a half-dozen grooves in it (although as the photo shows, there are other designs out there). You don’t need to heat it up, it has no power source, it doesn’t seem to be made of anything unusual, and it is clearly of human origin: the feet fell off within days. And I have absolutely no idea how it works.
I tried an experiment: I got two ice cubes and put one on the defrost-o-plate, with the second ice cube on a normal plate. After half a minute, the normal-plate ice cube was starting to look a bit shiny; the defrost-o-plate cube was a puddle of water. If I leave a couple of steaks out to defrost, they take a few hours; on the defrost-o-plate, half an hour.
Naturally, I think it’s a great thing – but my complete inability to work out how it does its magic is driving me daft. There are lots of sites offering defrost-o-plates on the net, such as this one, but nobody tells you how it actually works. So I’d like to turn this over to you, as you’re all much smarter than me. How can a bit of metal perform such magic? Is there a scientific explanation, or is it witchcraft?
102 Responses to “Disturbing technology: the defrost-o-plate”
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GillKaye on November 14th, 2009
I’ve spent so long happily reading this, and discussing heatsinks etc etc with the motley assembly of people here, with their varied knowledge of Physics, that the mini-chicken-fillets have defrosted all on their own ……..
GillKaye on November 14th, 2009
(I wrote ‘ten’ in the human slot, and upset the finer aspects of the site … SORRY!)
I’m going to bed now, night all xxx
Gary on November 16th, 2009
> the mini-chicken-fillets have defrosted all on their own
OH MY GOD! YOU HAVE DISCOVERED SPONTANEOUS DEFROSTING!
It’s not as dramatic as spontaneous combustion, I’ll admit.
Anonymous on November 17th, 2009
the plate is a slab of steel which absorbs heat from the air. (metal is a very good conductor of heat, and air is about the worst.)
mupwangle on November 17th, 2009
Yes, but steel is crap for that sort of thing. It’s aluminium usually.
tm on November 18th, 2009
>the plate is a slab of steel which absorbs heat from the air. (metal is a very good conductor of heat, and air is about the worst.)
yes, but that’s true for any bit of metal, and as we pointed out before this idea works with any bit of metal juts not as well (I believe frying pans was the example we used). I know it’s a long thread, but please try to keep up…
And I too expect it was something other than steel tool – if only because steel is really quite heavy for use around the kitchen for more than cutlery. More likely something like aluminium as David says.
tm on November 18th, 2009
>absorbs heat from the air
Actually, before someone else jumps on it, that is really nonsense – but I can’t be bothered with a physics argument. Suffice it to say most pieces of readily available metal would work to some extent.
Dave The Rave on January 10th, 2010
The reason it works so well are as follows:
1) (As already pointed out) it uses a metallic substrate. Most use Aluminium as it’s a good thermo conductor. That’s why electronic component heat sinks are made if it; better ones are copper based, but cost loads more.
2) The groves in the design increase the surface area of the material thus exposing more of it to the air and increasing it’s efficiency.
3) (And this is the nice bit) JML have used a black (again because black is a better thermo-radiator, better that the white used to paint your radiators with at home) ‘super-thermo conductor’ apparently the same stuff as used by NASA et al., to cover the base metal.
I found this article as I wanted to get hold of a tin of the stuff to paint some heat-sinks with…
I hope this helps.
BTW: I use my JML Defrost-O-Matic what-ever-it’s-called as a laptop cooler too. Just sit the laptop ontop of it and it keeps things at just the right temperature!
Lots of love,
Dave xxx
benjiboy on January 14th, 2010
any body ever wonder how planes keep from forming ice?
the answer is aluminum.
especially when treated with a finishing agent.
same thing that melts your ice or frozen chicken.
Gary on January 14th, 2010
This is my favourite post… ever!
mupwangle on January 14th, 2010
My chicken is rarely defrosted by planes.
Why would I want my ice defrosted? Surely I would just buy water? I suppose if I wanted to store it for a very long time and had no access to big plastic bottles. Or if I wanted to transport my ice somewhere and had no refrigeration equipment.
Stephen on January 17th, 2010
Actually planes are kept ice-free by big de-icers that spray the wings before take-off; aluminium no less susceptible to ice than any other metal.
Squander Two on January 18th, 2010
Surely the some properties of aluminium that make it good for defrosting in the warm also make it quicker to ice up in sub-zero temperatures.
Metal on January 18th, 2010
I honestly am going to suggest this is some form of Witchcraft…
These things are manufactured far away in a small African village where teams of witch doctors are lined up in an assembly line and spray their voodoo juices using chicken’s feet on the metal as it goes past them on the assembly line before being packed in a box and shipped to the developed world… :| scary but its true!
(Great post by the way!)
Squander Two on January 18th, 2010
Modern outsourcing is getting really ridiculous if the Caribbean is offshoring its voodoo to African witch-doctors.
mupwangle on January 18th, 2010
They’ve had to since the earthquake, unfortunately.
the bishop on February 5th, 2010
the plate is made from “krakiti” a rare type of metal found only at the base of the krak tree in rhyll north wales.j.m.l the popular pop group discovered it while looking for their lost budgie in 2007 duing a cub outing.they coated it with black dulux silk and now market it as “magic defrost” avail in all good stores
sidney pwatier on February 6th, 2010
the bishop is speaking utter garbage .Krakiti,is also available in abundance at the entrance to the dhss benefit office in prestatyn
PETER HUGHES on November 3rd, 2010
GARRY where can I buy this defrost plate or tray.
Need manufacturer or wholesaler.
Kind regards,
PETER HUGHES
Gary on November 3rd, 2010
Peter, they appear to be rarer than hens’ teeth these days, so ebay’s probably your best bet. alternatively, you could just look for an aluminium pan – that works too.
Drewble on February 8th, 2011
You can get one of these from Kleenezee ! We just did and I am confused, Ice cubes dont melt that fast. So unless there is a very very small person wriggling about inside with a blowtorch, then despite what Scotty from Startrek says “Ye can change the laws o physics Captain! Freezy stuff just melty melts on this mind achingly weird plate!
don on November 28th, 2011
order direct and I’ll send once paid via paypal, a little added for postage. Taking advanced orders for ice treads – beat the snow £9.95 + £1.99
Gary on November 28th, 2011
*applauds*
tm on November 3rd, 2010
Yay! Defrost-o-plate thread, how I’ve missed you!
Debbie E. on December 22nd, 2010
I have had one of these black defrosters for a long time and LOVE it. In fact, the way I found this site is trying to locate more for gifts. Don’t know the name or what it is made of but I don’t care. It does work.
drfoxx on January 27th, 2011
I own one of these! It’s called the ‘Thaw Master TM’
It is made from Aluminum then they anodized it which is an electrolytic process. It works so well. I have had mine for more than 10 years. Doesn’t look like anyone sells this product online but you can contact the company here
CONTACT: Workforce Systems Corp., Alcoa
Ella Chesnutt, 615/681-6034
or
Greenstone Roberts Investor Relations
Group, Coconut Creek, Fla.
Rob Bleckman, 305/975-3500
Squander Two on January 27th, 2011
This thread should go on your CV, Gary. It has surely had a greater impact on society at large than any of your other writing.
Gary on January 28th, 2011
It’s like I was chosen to help spread the news of defrost-o-plates.
Squander Two on January 28th, 2011
This thread is now Google’s and Bing’s top hit for “defrost plate”.
Stephen on January 28th, 2011
If you could find an affiliate link, you could make a killing! (Maybe)
gary on February 27th, 2011
Good news! If you’re in the UK, it’s just been added to the betterware catalogue!
gary on February 27th, 2011
I should probably shut the blog down now. End on a high note.
MIMI on March 6th, 2011
Is it completely safe…doesn’t alter ANYTHING about the food at all. Love this blog, funny stuff, but hey I am serious about the question. Would love to know.
Gary on March 6th, 2011
Yes, it’s completely safe and doesn’t change the food at all.
Squander Two on March 6th, 2011
Well, it warms it up.
galvar2011 on April 19th, 2011
HELLO MY NAME IS GLORIA I USE TO HAVE ONE OF THESE BLACK RECTANGULAR DEFROSTING PLATE WHICH ONLY COST $5.00 AND IT WORKED GREAT!!! I USE TO GET HOME LATE FROM WORK GRAB A LARGE PACKAGE OF MEAT OR A WHOLE CHICKEN DIRECTLY OUT OF THE FREEZER PLACE IT ON THIS PLATE & THE WHOLE THING WOULD BE TOTALLY DEFTOSTED WITHIN 6-10MINS. I WOULD LIKE TO ORDER SOME MORE OF THESE DEFROSTING PLATES…PLEASE TELL ME HOW I CAN ORDER MORE!!
GLORIA ALVARADO
EMAIL: galvar2011@gmail.com
mupwangle on April 19th, 2011
There’s a little button between tab and shift called the CAPS LOCK key. Press it.
shinythings on April 24th, 2011
There is also a thing known as tolerance. Learn it. …I realize reading something in all caps on the internet feels like someone is shouting at an above normal volume at you, but it seems like internet anonymity compels us to berate people every chance we get for even the smallest of things. Pick your battles better. (Sorry for the derail.)
mupwangle on April 24th, 2011
>>There is also a thing known as tolerance. Learn it.
Exactly how was my comment intolerant? Possibly a little sarcastic, I’ll admit, but simply stating a fact.
>>but it seems like internet anonymity compels us to berate people every chance we get for even the smallest of things. Pick your battles better.
Pot kettle black moment, methinks.
Gary on April 25th, 2011
Shinythings, mupwangle, I’ve just checked whether the internet needs any extra bickering about caps lock, and the answer appears to be “no”.
mupwangle on April 25th, 2011
:-p
Squander Two on April 26th, 2011
There goes my business plan.
Gary on April 27th, 2011
Mine too.
mupwangle on April 27th, 2011
There is, however, extra demand for people to check grammar on messageboard posts.
Squander Two on April 28th, 2011
And there is insufficient demand for criticism of the use of more than one exclamation mark at once.
Ronny on June 5th, 2011
Hi,Mabe we can get back to the black metal object? it can be used to save power!if you think ahead and put your frozen chicken legs on the defroster in the fridge.
Mupwangle on June 5th, 2011
If you put your frozen chicken legs on the plate and put it in the freezer it breaks the laws of thermodynamics, which probably invalidates the warranty on the freezer.
colin on August 10th, 2011
The commenters need to heed the words of the Bishop cica 2010 and succumb to his graceful knowledge and wisdom,in particular,the bit about Prestatyn.
Mohammad on September 8th, 2011
So, basically after all this scientific entertainment we still don’t know how the thing works…wonderful! :)
mupwangle on September 8th, 2011
I thought we’d covered this – it’s magic.
TooManyJens on January 18th, 2012
Found you when doing a google search on “thaw plate” to figure out how this thing works. Just thought I’d comment to bring the thread into 2012!
Gary on January 18th, 2012
Excellent. Thanks :)