Reliable assessment of the effect of a solute upon ice recrystallization is accomplished with "splat cooling," the impaction of a small solution droplet onto a very cold metal plate. The ice disc has extremely small crystals, and recrystallization can be followed without confusing effects caused by grain nucleation. This method confirms the exceptionally strong recrystallization inhibition effect of antifreeze protein from Antarctic fish and shows that grain growth rate is a sensitive function of both grain size and solute concentration.