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Defrost The Freezer: Remove Ice Quickly And Easily

If your freezer is not equipped with a no-frost function, a layer of ice will usually form at some point – and you should remove it. Otherwise, the cooling capacity will be reduced and the power consumption will increase. Our tips show you how to bring about the end of the Ice Age.

Tips against ice: Defrost the freezer

How often you should defrost your freezer depends on the humidity level. The higher this is at the location of the device, the sooner ice can form. A solid guideline is de-icing once or twice a year, which you can combine with a thorough cleaning. If you want to defrost the freezer or the freezer compartment, you first have to empty out the frozen food and store it for the duration of the campaign without any loss of quality. In winter you can simply put everything in boxes on the balcony or terrace if the temperatures are right. Otherwise cool boxes or bags are suitable. If ice packs are used, you should put them in your freezer in good time before defrosting. You can find out whether everything has to remain frozen in the article Storage of food and in our product information on the respective products.

Preparations for defrosting

Before defrosting the freezer, you should unplug it. Otherwise, the device will work at full speed during the procedure, which can lead to overload damage. Defrosting the freezer without switching it off is therefore not recommended. On some models, you can simply use one of the freezer drawers to collect the condensation water. It is placed under the drain opening. Otherwise, you can use other containers, special collection mats, or simply towels. You should have the latter ready to be on the safe side, just in case water finds its way onto the kitchen floor unplanned. Defrosting can be done by itself, but it may take several hours.

Tips to speed up freezer defrosting

If you don’t want to wait that long, you can use a hair dryer to defrost the ice in the freezer. However, always keep a sufficient distance so that contact with moisture does not result in a short circuit. Alternatively, a bowl of hot water works well to get rid of the ice. Simply place it on the bottom of the device and the rising steam will do the rest. You can use your hand or a blunt object to help detach ice sheets from the walls very carefully. Never use knives or other sharp-edged utensils: even minor damage to the freezer walls can have a lasting impact on the function of the appliance. Once the ice is completely removed, give your freezer a thorough cleaning and turn it back on. Once it has cooled down sufficiently, put in your frozen food. If something has thawed, the expert knows the answer to the question “Can food be frozen twice?”.

Can you still eat food with freezer burn?

Although food with freezer burn is not harmful to health, it is usually no longer edible. Consistency and taste change as a result of freezer burn, and the food can become tough in the affected areas during preparation.

The dried-out, brownish-red, or white discolored spots on frozen food are caused, among other things, by excessive temperature fluctuations during transport. But leaking or loose packaging can also be the cause: If the frozen food comes into contact with air, water continues to evaporate from the affected areas – even in the deep-frozen state. When you defrost the frozen food, it no longer absorbs water in the areas affected by freezer burn.

To avoid freezer burn, pack food tightly and airtight before freezing. For example, use freezer bags that can cling to meat or vegetables. Carefully squeeze out the air before sealing. Aluminum foil and food foil are also generally suitable. Always transport frozen food home from the grocery store in a cool bag to avoid extreme temperature fluctuations.

Alternatively, frozen goods can be glazed before they are actually frozen. First, it is pre-frozen on a plate without packaging for two hours. Then brush it with cold water or immerse it in it. Then it goes back into the freezer. As soon as the water has frozen and a protective layer of ice has formed, you can pack the frozen food and store it in the freezer.

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Written by John Myers

Professional Chef with 25 years of industry experience at the highest levels. Restaurant owner. Beverage Director with experience creating world-class nationally recognized cocktail programs. Food writer with a distinctive Chef-driven voice and point of view.

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