Having frost in the freezer can restrict space and lead to high energy consumption. In fact, the layer of ice present makes the device work intensively and can quickly increase your electricity bill. If you want to defrost your freezer, remember to clean it well for long-term maintenance. Here’s how to defrost your freezer in no time for better frozen food storage.
Feared by many people, defrosting the freezer is a necessary task in some cases. If you find it difficult to close the door of your freezer due to the layer of frost covering the walls, it is time to resort to defrosting. Obviously, after completing this task, clean the refrigerator and freezer to extend the life of your appliances.
When to defrost your freezer?
Having frost in the freezer can be annoying for several reasons:
This restricts the available space. Your appliance will consume more energy to operate. In fact, the ice present will force your machine to work much more, which forces you to use more electricity, but also reduces its useful life. In addition, the frost that settles is not always clean and can give off bad odors. This is a sign that you need to defrost your freezer. It is generally recommended to perform this operation twice a year, whether your equipment is a cabinet, chest, or combined with a refrigerator type.
How to defrost the freezer?
Some appliances are equipped with an automatic defrosting system. But if yours does not have this system, you can opt for manual defrosting. You must first empty your refrigerator and freezer before proceeding with this action. Place frozen foods in insulated bags or an emergency freezer. Next, place a mop under your device and an empty container to collect any excess water that may leak. Unplug your device before opening the door. Use a spatula to loosen the ice being careful not to break the appliance. Remove the compartments from your freezer and keep them at room temperature before cleaning. When the excess ice melts, wash them well and dry them before placing them back in the freezer.
To speed up defrosting, you can place a saucepan filled with boiling water under a trivet in your appliance. Clean the inside of the appliance with a mixture of white vinegar and baking soda to remove stubborn stains. Allow your device to dry and then plug it back in to allow it to run for at least an hour. Then place your food back in the freezer, being careful not to overload it so that air can circulate easily.
Long term maintenance
Regularly cleaning your freezer allows you to ensure its long-term performance. This maintenance involves, among other things, defrosting the freezer on average once every 3 months. Defrosting the refrigerator is not everything. It is also necessary to clean the internal walls and joints to prevent the proliferation of bacteria. Use pure white vinegar for this step. This technique cleans and disinfects at the same time. Either way, defrosting is the main maintenance of a freezer.
The techniques on how to defrost a freezer or how to defrost a freezer have already been discussed, but a question still arises: is it possible to defrost the freezer without turning it off? The answer is yes, by sprinkling the ice with boiling water. The ice will melt little by little and you will have to scrape it off as you go with a spatula. Once you have finished defrosting a freezer, always be careful to check the seals. Make sure there is no heat loss. If necessary, replace them.