Low-molecular-weight ice recrystallization inhibitors (IRIs) are ideal cryoprotectants that control the growth of ice and mitigate cell damage during freezing. Herein, we describe a detailed study correlating the ice recrystallization inhibition activity and the cryopreservation ability with the structure of O-aryl-glycosides. Many effective IRIs are efficient cryoadditives for the freezing of red blood cells (RBCs). One effective cryoadditive did not inhibit ice recrystallization but instead inhibited ice nucleation, demonstrating the significance of inhibiting both processes and illustrating the importance of this emerging class of cryoprotectants.