Defrosting an Upright Freezer

One of the ways to save money on an upright freezer purchase is to choose a model without automatic defrost. Of course, by making this choice, you are committing to defrosting your upright freezer manually on a regular basis. Defrosting your freezer will improve its efficiency, extend the life of your freezer, and preserve the quality of your frozen food items. (Frost in your freezer contributes to freezer-burn of your food.) Frost happens when moisture is introduced to the inside of the freezer, either from opening and closing the door, adding items that are not completely frozen (condensation) or other environmental influences. Frost can form due to a number of reasons:

- Poor air circulation inside the freezer. Organize your frozen items in such a way as to allow the cold air to circulate among the items. This also helps retain the quality of your frozen items.

- High humidity. Installing a freezer outdoors in a garage or under a carport may be convenient, but the outdoor temperature and humidity variances affect the efficiency of the freezer and contribute to frost build-up inside. A freezer installed indoors where air conditioning helps regulate the level of humidity will decrease frost build up.

- Improper settings. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the coldness settings inside your freezer to optimize its efficiency and help prevent frost build-up.

- Repeated opening and closing of the freezer door. Before opening the freezer door, mentally determine what your will be
retrieving. This will help limit the number of times the door is opened. Keeping a written inventory of the items inside your upright freezer will help limit the length of time the door is open since you will have a general idea of where the desired item is.

- Poor maintenance. Periodically check the condition of the door gasket for cracks or other damage. Keep the gasket cleaned and clear of mold and dirt to maintain a complete seal. Also keep the coils vacuumed for maximum efficiency.

While a hair dryer and butter knife cleaning may make for a humorous episode of "I Love Lucy", it is certainly not the best way to clean a frosted freezer. Your upright freezer comes with an owner's manual for the proper care and cleaning of your freezer. For many years, I followed those directions carefully. Then I spent another hour cleaning up the spilled water and other casualties of the process. One day, I discovered an easier way for me to clean my freezer. I have not had any problem or damage as a result of this change. However, please note this is not found in the owner's manual.

How often you need to defrost will vary from freezer to freezer, depending on the factors that impact the frost build up in your particular circumstance. For the most part, 2-6 times a year is the norm. Prior to defrosting your upright freezer, make available enough coolers or other appropriate containers to hold your frozen items during the cleaning process. Remember, items that thaw even partially should not be refrozen. Packing the frozen items tightly together and in a cooler will keep them frozen solid for a sufficient amount of time. When you begin the defrosting process, turn your freezer completely off. Remove and pack your frozen items. Insulating the coolers with blankets will also help keep them cold. Using bath size towels, layer them on each shelf and in the bottom of the freezer. These towels will absorb the water from the melting frost. If there is a water tray under the freezer, remove it, clean it and replace it. If there is a drainage tube, place it into a container in case there is any water run off. In a short time, again depending on temperature and other influences, the frost will melt enough to wipe chucks away with a towel. The melting water will be absorbed by the towels. It is helpful to have a bucket or container to put the soggy towels in. Once the frost is cleared, dry as thoroughly as possible.

After the upright freezer has been defrosted and dried, turn on the freezer and set to the coldest setting (until the freezer reaches the appropriate temperature, then use a thermometer to set to the proper setting, 0 to -5 degrees.) Repack the freezer, remembering to allow for air circulation. Packing similar items together will make it easier to locate items without holding the door open too long. As you replace your frozen items, check items for age and condition, discarding questionable or expired items. Remember, it is unsafe to refreeze thawed or partially thawed meats.

By following these simple steps, you can make defrosting your upright freezer a less tedious task. Defrosting your freezer is a good habit to form!