If you want a truly clean freezer, there’s only one way to achieve it
A large and functional freezer is a must for anyone buying a refrigerator in bulk to save money. Although there are some foods you should never freezeit is the best place to keep reserves meat, fish, smoothie fruit and ice cream. Lots of ice.
But let’s be honest: Can you account for everything in your freezer right now? Worse yet, can you even take anything out of your freezer without causing a flood of frozen peas and chocolate chips? If your freezer is bursting at the seams with ice and snow-covered walls, it’s time to defrost.
And if you want a clean freezer. A really clean freezer, defrosting is the only way to get it.
For more information, we spoke to Trevor Craig, food safety expert at Microbac Laboratories. While some of the ice buildup in a freezer can be attributed to overfilling, “freezers actually hold temperature better when they’re full,” Craig says. Good news for apocalypse planners, but your freezer can get freezing for a variety of reasons, which overfilling can exacerbate.
“Most frost occurs when moisture in the air trapped in the freezer condenses and freezes,” Craig says. Overcrowding the freezer can cause the freezer to not seal properly, allowing moisture to seep in.
A defrosted freezer is easy to clean.
Although some frost formation is inevitable, you can help prevent it by being mindful of how often you open and close your freezer door and by making sure to cool any items destined for the freezer first. Warm foods placed in the freezer also cause excessive evaporation. Older freezers are also more susceptible to frost than newer ones.
Read more: Can you guess which zones in your refrigerator are the coldest (and warmest)?
Freezer efficiency and food safety
Making sure your refrigerator is running efficiently isn’t just good for your electric bill, it can also have an impact on your health. “High-powered freezers can burn out or not keep your food frozen,” Craig says. “If food gets too warm, it won’t last its full shelf life and can even be a health hazard if it doesn’t stay cold enough.”
Frost can also lead to unwanted and unexpected replacement costs, which is much more problematic than a slightly higher electric bill. According to Craig, “If you get a severe frost, your freezer could actually break down, and then you’ll have little choice but to throw out all the thawed food,” he says, not to mention the fact that you may have to buy a new appliance.
How do you defrost your freezer?
Defrost the top or bottom freezer following the same steps.
Fortunately, defrosting your freezer is a relatively simple process once you get over the trauma of confronting what lurks inside. A little planning is all it takes, especially if you have a permanently stocked freezer.
Step 1: Remove all items from the freezer
Meat and other products with freezer burn are probably not worth keeping.
“Ideally, you should defrost your freezer when it’s almost empty before refilling it,” Craig says, adding that you can store your frozen items in a cooler during the process if necessary. “If you defrost often enough, it shouldn’t take too long and you can keep everything frozen or cold until you put it back in.”
Step 2: Set your freezer to defrost or turn it all the way down to the lowest setting
Set the freezer to the lowest setting or use the defrost setting if you have one.
Newer freezers often have a defrost function, otherwise just turn the knob all the way off or to the lowest setting. (Note: do not unplug the entire appliance, as we are still trying to keep the products in the fridge cold during this process.)
Step 3: Let it sit until all the frost has melted
Once the freezer is dry, you can lower the temperature again and load the products in.
“Once you’ve taken everything out of the freezer and turned it off or set it to defrost, it should only take a few hours if the frost isn’t too bad, or about a day if it’s particularly bad,” Craig says. “You can keep the door open during this process to speed it up if the manufacturer recommends it.
Step 4: Wipe it off
Once completely thawed, remove any remaining water and wipe all surfaces clean before using the appliance again.
The refrigerator cavity should not be threatened by the freezer defrosting process, but you can place some towels on the edge of the refrigerator door, or on the floor, if you are concerned about water leakage. If you see leakage, it could be a sign that the seals of the freezer or refrigerator are damaged.
Step 5: Turn the knob back to the desired temperature
Once the freezer is dry and restarted, you can refill it with items you want to keep safe.
Freezer maintenance and care
Once you’ve pulled off the bandage and defrosted the freezer, you can save time (and maybe money) in the future by following the process properly.
“You should defrost about once a year, or when you see the frost getting thicker than about a quarter inch,” Craig says. “It makes your freezer work better, which keeps the temperature of your food and your electric bill down.”
Defrosting your freezer isn’t just about confronting your demons in the form of long-forgotten items that may have been burned beyond repair or are past their expiration date. “For me, there’s usually a few ice cream cones or frozen Girl Scout cookies that I forgot about,” says Craig, “so I have a nice snack while I’m cleaning out.”
To defrost a chest freezer, you’ll need to take a slightly different approach. Here’s how to defrost a freestanding chef’s freezer in just a few minutes.
