Many people have a freezer, whether it is in their home or a commercial kitchen. It’s vital to maintain them. Defrosting is a very useful process. Everyone should know how to defrost a freezer safely.
We’ll discuss the reasons why you should defrost your freezer. We’ll also explain how often it should be done and provide guidance on how to do it. To ensure food safety, we’ll also discuss what to do with food when defrosting your freezer.
What is the point of defrosting a freezer?
As warm air is introduced to a freezer, it can build up frost. This allows moisture and heat to enter the freezer, which in turn causes frost to form on the roof, floor, and walls. Frost can also form when unfrozen food products are placed in the freezer.
How to Defrost a Freezer Quickly
Many methods for defrosting your freezer are available online, though many don’t consider the potential dangers to food safety. Turning off your freezer and allowing the ice to melt is best.
Below is a list of steps to defrost your freezer quickly and safely.
Please turn off the freezer or unplug it and then empty it. After you empty the freezer, we’ll discuss what to do with it. But make sure you are prepared and ready to go before you start this step.
Place a tray or towels in front of your freezer. This is to capture the moisture. After the ice has melted, you can place rags or something bigger – such as a beach towel – inside the freezer to absorb more moisture. Many freezers come with a drainage hose to help drain the water. If true, you can place the drainage hose in a container.
How to Defrost Food in a Freezer
You cannot safely freeze food in your freezer. The reason is that frozen food can thaw, and it could reach the ‘danger area’. Frozen foods do not kill bacteria and moulds but can become dormant. The bacteria can multiply even after food has been frozen. This is why it is important not to refreeze foods. For more information, look at our article What is the Temperature Danger Zone?
Once you have defrosted your freezer and turned it off, you need to remove all frozen food as quickly as possible. Food mustn’t thaw. Now, the question is: What do you do?
If you don’t have a lot of food in your freezer
How Often should you defrost your freezer?
Defrosting a freezer should be done at least once or twice per year. It is a good indicator of how often you should defrost your freezer, especially if there is significant ice buildup.
Do not leave the freezer to defrost until it is impossible to close the door. It is more common to rush the freezing process, resulting in less control over when the freezer is done.