Any idea what this is?

Anthony
by Anthony

As I removed some food from my top section Freezer, I was exposed to this. Its the inside wall of my Refridgerator Freezer. It looks exactly like coffer grounds in color, though the photo does not show it. I do not have any coffee stacked in my Freezer, so whatever it is, its coming in from those open gaps of the rear wall of my Fridge.

  8 answers
  • Pauline Pauline on Dec 12, 2018

    It's hard to tell from the picture. Could it be rust . It looks like you might have rust on the surface. Maybe not a good guess, but a guess.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Dec 12, 2018

    Thanks for the picture!


    Looks like coarse black pepper or a crumbled topping off something. Maybe some kind of spice or rub you forgot about that was in a bag or a container that accidentally opened. I would clean it up and see if it happens again, in the meantime check the contents of the frozen items to see if it could have come from any of those. Best.

  • Rose Broadway Rose Broadway on Dec 12, 2018

    Anthony, I think if it was coming from the back of the freezer you would see particles in the grate. Clean it up, then watch for it to happen again. If it does not, you can be fairly sure it's some type of food particles from the past.

  • Lynn Sorrell Lynn Sorrell on Dec 12, 2018

    Do you know if you have cockroaches? The droppings/poop looks like coffee grounds https://www.terminix.com/pest-control/cockroaches/signs/droppings/ Maybe? spilled Hamburger that has been fozen long enuf it's gotten freezer burn or even become freeze dried. https://www.thekitchn.com/food-science-what-is-freezer-b-62927 can't be insulation it's not granular in freezer fridges. Did you have any packets of the moisture removers in anything in freezer does it look like tiny pieces of clay? https://www.doityourself.com/stry/3-types-of-moisture-absorbers-explained Let us know if you find out anything

  • JW JW on Dec 12, 2018

    That really does look like rust. Clean it up, wipe those 'gills' and then paint them with a good food safe rust proofing paint. However, I'd be more likely to consider getting a new fridge. Rust in an old fridge is never good, and I imagine the fridge is not very economic to run either.

  • Oberlinmom Oberlinmom on Dec 12, 2018

    I don't know where you live but it reminds me of bug droppings. If your fridge was off for any length of time. It's possible something came in via the vent. More likely something that was in your freezer leaked what ever it is. Like everyone said, just clean it up and see if anything like it returns.

  • Anthony Anthony on Dec 12, 2018

    Its not rust and proudly say that I have never seen a roach in my home, and even if it is, aren't they known for hot and humid temperature? Why would they be in a Freezer of all places. Its not poop of any kind either. I am extremely clean in what i store in my Freezer so this is not a spill of some kind. I guess i was hoping a Fridge repair man might see this and get his or hers opinion. Thank you all The Frigidaire is only 5 years old and I live in NYC suburb.