There are plenty of chicken nuggets for your kids, ice cubes for your Friday night cocktails, and leftover pizza for days. Keep your freezer in top shape by taking care of it properly. Defrosting a freezer is extremely important, so you should know how to do it.
According to Shirley Hood, an appliance expert at Abt Electronics in Glenview, Illinois, defrosting your freezer increases its efficiency and prevents ice buildup. When organizing your freezer, make sure your freezer is at the right temperature to avoid freezer burn. Also, taking stock of what’s inside is the perfect opportunity to clean the interior.”
Defrosting a freezer can be confusing if you need help. We have everything you need to make your fridge and chest freezer function at their best. Keeping your freezer humming is easy.
When A Freezer Frosts Up, Why Does It Happen?
Your household’s frost overload is caused by constantly opening and closing the freezer door. A freezer’s freezing problem is caused by excessive moisture contacting coils or walls 32 degrees or lower, explains Catherine Quinn, an appliance buyer at P.C. Richard & Son in Farmingdale, New York. Over time, your freezer will build up ice.
There are some freezers, however, that don’t experience this problem. Auto-defrost functions help prevent frost buildup in many freezer-and-fridge combos. Unfortunately, these auto-defrosting appliances are more expensive and require more energy than manual-defrosting freezers.
When Is The Right Time To Defrost A Freezer?
Defrosting your freezer is a good idea if you host family or friends this holiday season. Notice a thin layer of frost forming on the glass storage containers. (After all, you need room for all those leftovers!) Defrosting your freezer is a good idea when all those leftovers pile up. Ensure you defrost your freezer (if it doesn’t have an auto-defrost feature) at least once a year to keep it functioning correctly.
What Is The Typical Timeframe To Defrost A Freezer?
Defrosting a freezer (and defrosting freezer coils) takes time. You’ll need a full 24 hours in your cleaning schedule for a complete meltdown, depending on the size of your appliance and how much ice has accumulated. In addition, you will need to allow time for food to cool while your freezer is off.
However, not all freezers require you to turn them off or take a long time to defrost. Defrosting methods recommended by the manufacturer should be found in your user manual.
If you want to defrost the freezer, here are ways to do it.
The first step is to turn the freezer off and unplug it.
This is your first objective unless your freezer is part of your refrigerator, which is likely. Does this apply to you? If you have a mini freezer or a freezer attached to a refrigerator, check the owner’s manual to learn how to defrost it.
Then the next step is to take the contents out. You can use a portable cooler to keep things frozen when your freezer is defrosting. By tossing expired foods, you can start your kitchen organization project ahead of schedule.
The shelving will also need to be removed at this point. The shelves and drawers could use a good cleaning, so here’s your chance. Before freezing them again, let them reach room temperature and make sure they are thoroughly dry.
The third step is to allow the ice in the freezer to melt. It’s the process’s point and the potential mess. Consider the future water accumulation before the ice melts. In front of the freezer, you can lay plastic, towels, or even shallow baking pans. Choose a top or bottom freezer based on your needs.
The fourth step is to allow the accumulated ice to melt by leaving the door open. There are a few tricks experts can use to speed up the process (more on that below), but you must wait for now. While you wait, consider cleaning your refrigerator.
The fifth step is to clean the interior after the ice has melted but wipe it down first. If you want to clean it, you can use baking soda and water. The interior needs to be wiped dry once it is clean and good as new.
The last step is to turn the freezer back on but wait to put the food back there.
Before reloading, let it cool to zero degrees. Are you looking for more freezer-ready foods? Take a look at the types of healthy foods nutritionists consume.
Just know this process can take an entire day. However, there are methods to make this happen quicker.
You can set the fan high speed and point it at the freezer. As a result, the freezer will be emptied of cold air. Also, ensure any large pieces of frost are removed to facilitate the process. Put a pot of hot water on the metal shelf to help make it melt faster, but don’t pour it. To remove excess frost, use an ice scraper or spatula. Hood cautions not to use anything too sharp so as not to damage the freezer.
