COLD your supposed to put them in the freezer. I don't know why but that's what my mom told me to do so I've always done it.

I don't do so, my aunt does, she says it extends their lives...i don't see how...but maybe they do

I've done it before. I can't really tell a huge amount. If they do, it's not by much... or at least from my experiences

I did this when I was a kid and was convinced that the batteries lasted longer then.

There have been studies on the subject and the results showed that refrigerator batteries held a negligible amount more charge.

A. There is no need to store your batteries in the refrigerator or freezer, says Keith Schapp, a spokesman for Eveready Battery Co. in St. Louis. Decades ago, when battery technology was not as good and when few houses had air conditioning, people could extend the shelf life of batteries by keeping them cool. ``Heat and moisture are a battery's worst enemies,'' says Schapp. In cool refrigerators, the chemical reactions that cause a battery to lose power take place much more slowly. Keeping batteries in a fridge will extend the shelf life -- but only minutely, says Schapp, ``and most batteries now have a shelf life of five years now, so it's not necessary to keep them in the fridge.'' The ideal storage conditions are a dry, cool place. About 70 degrees is ideal, Schapp says. Now, if you are set on keeping your batteries in the fridge or freezer, make sure to store them in a tightly-sealed plastic bag. The bag will keep moisture away from the batteries. And allow them return to room temperature for 24 hours before using them. This will prevent any problems that could be caused by putting frozen batteries into a device that generates heat when it is on. Extreme cold has a negligible effect on batteries, says Schapp. So, in summary, it isn't the cold that helps you batteries ... it is the absence of being exposed to heat! So it doesn't HAVE to be a fridge, just a cool place with no moisture. Source: http://www.boston.com/globe/search/stories/health/how_and_why/081996.htm Also: Consumers Report magazine took exactly 432 double A, C and D batteries. They stored some in the refrigerator, and some at room temperatures. At the end of five years they found that indeed the refrigerated batteries had more charge, but not by much. The room temperature batteries still had 96 percent of the charge of the refrigerated ones. So, is this enough to merit filling a refrigerator with batteries? I suppose rational spouses could disagree, but to me it seems the answer is "no." Particularly when you consider the inconvenience of having to wait for the battery to warm up. Also, as the batteries come up to room temperature water condenses on the them, which could harm electronic equipment. http://www.engineerguy.com/comm/3660.htm

just use rechargeable NiMH and you will be happy with their longevity.