(57) A flow control valve is disclosed in a household refrigeration appliance having a vapor compression refrigeration system comprising a cyclically operated compressor (12), a condenser (14), an evaporator (16) and an expansion device (18) between the condenser (14) and the evaporator (16). The refrigerant flow control valve (20) is disposed between the condenser (14) and the evaporator (16) and comprises a housing (24) defining a refrigerant flow chamber (26) for receiving liquified refrigerant from the condenser outlet, valve seat structure (30) defining a refrigerant flow port (32) for communicating refrigerant from the condenser (14) to the evaporator (16), and a flow controlling valve assembly (34) coacting with the valve seat structure (30) to control the refrigerant flow from the refrigerant flow chamber (26) to the expansion device (18). flow control valve (20) controls system refrigerant flow in response to subcooling, blocks refrigerant flow from the condenser (14) when the compressor (12) is cycled off and enables circulation of hot gaseous refrigerant under extreme high temperature ambient conditions.