Defrosting the freezer section is admittedly not one of our favourite household chores. Nonetheless, it is necessary! We show you how to accomplish it not just swiftly and safely, but also efficiently.
Moisture enters inside the freezer compartment when we open it. As it cools, it produces ice on the walls and cooling coils. This means one thing above all for the freezer compartment: extra work! The more ice that forms inside, the more energy is required to keep the temperature cold. So, how do you go about it? Of course, defrost the freezer compartment!
Is it necessary to defrost the freezer compartment on a regular basis?
The freezer compartment should be defrosted at least twice a year, but no later than when ice has formed on its walls and is more than a millimetre thick. After all, when the thickness of the ice sheet increases, not only will you run out of space – which is already scarce – but your electricity use will also rise.
How to thoroughly defrost the freezer compartment
Now it’s time to get down to business. It’s preferable to do this in the winter so you don’t have to use up your food and can leave it outside to defrost for two to three hours (in sub-zero temperatures). Prepare some rags and towels as well.
Remove all drawers from the freezer compartment and turn off the appliance. We recommend placing a bowl of hot water in the freezer compartment and closing the door to melt the ice covering as rapidly as possible. Most of the icing should have loosened after about half an hour. You can now dislodge the remaining ice with wooden or plastic tools. Using the towels and rags provided, collect the condensation water. If you anticipate a lot of condensation, a pan or baking dish can be placed in the freezer section to collect the water. The final step is to properly clean the freezer.
How to reduce ice formation in the freezer compartment
To reduce the formation of ice in the freezer compartment in future or even to avoid it completely, you should only ever open the freezer compartment door briefly and, above all, as infrequently as possible. It is also advisable not to put warm food in the freezer compartment. Always allow soup and other food to cool down before freezing.
How to prevent ice from forming in the freezer
To reduce the accumulation of ice in the freezer compartment in the future, or even completely avoid it, open the freezer compartment door just briefly and as infrequently as feasible. It’s also a good idea to avoid putting warm food in the freezer. Allow soup and other foods to cool completely before freezing them.