Ep 6. Cooling a Six-Pack

In this episode of Mythbusters season 3, titled "Cooling a Six-Pack," the team tackles a common problem for party hosts everywhere: how to quickly and efficiently cool a six-pack of beer to the perfect temperature. Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman begin by testing the popular myth that you can cool a six-pack in just minutes by simply placing it in a cooler with ice and salt.

To test this myth, Adam and Jamie set up two identical coolers and fill one with ice and salt while leaving the other empty. They then place a six-pack of beer in each cooler and monitor their temperature over the course of several minutes. Surprisingly, they find that the cooler with ice and salt actually heats up faster than the empty cooler, leading them to conclude that this common party trick may not be as effective as advertised.

Undeterred, Adam and Jamie move on to their next test: using a fire extinguisher to rapidly cool a six-pack. After setting up a makeshift beer fridge and placing a six-pack inside, they blast it with a fire extinguisher to quickly lower the temperature. Although this method certainly cools the beer, the team notes that it can also be potentially dangerous due to the high pressure and potential frostbite from the extinguisher.

In search of a safer and more effective cooling method, Adam and Jamie turn to the power of liquid nitrogen. They set up a barrel of liquid nitrogen and sit a six-pack inside, causing it to rapidly cool to a temperature of -196 degrees Celsius. Although this method certainly cools the beer quickly, the team notes that it may not be the most practical option for party hosts lacking a supply of liquid nitrogen.

Finally, Adam and Jamie test a myth that claims you can cool a six-pack by spinning it rapidly in a bucket of ice and water. They set up a motorized bucket and fill it with ice and water, then place a six-pack inside and turn the motor on. To their surprise, they find that this method actually does work to quickly cool the beer, with the spinning motion preventing the cans from heating up in contact with the warmer water. This test is deemed a success, leading the team to conclude that this could be a viable method for hosts to cool their drinks quickly and efficiently.

Overall, "Cooling a Six-Pack" is a fun and informative episode of Mythbusters that explores the science behind a common party problem. Adam and Jamie tackle a variety of myths and methods for cooling beer, offering up some surprising results and insights for viewers. Whether you're a fan of the show or simply looking for a better way to cool your beverages, this episode is sure to entertain and inform.