Defrosting the freezer

kunekune

Sadly - not possible. It's just us - I have no family and OH's is the other end of the country. It's a pity because I'd love to cook for more people sometimes.

GarryJ68

invite the neighbours round - what a good excuse to get to know them better.... explain the situation and invite them round to fill their bellies

torbrex

I defrosted my freezer yesterday.
I froze a couple of ice-packs beforehand and then put everything from the freezer into the fridge with the ice-packs.
It only took an hour to defrost the freezer using a basin with hot water and the a quick wipedown and I was able to put everything back in again, no fuss, no bother with having to cook stuff, job done.

kunekune

I may do that with some of it! But I feel like a cooking day anyway as the next few weeks will be really busy (and dd is unwell, so we're not doing anything much, and anyway the pudding will be cooking for 4 hours). List so far is:

Beef – goulash soup (for 4)
Lamb – lamb and broad bean tagine (for 2) [also uses some broad beans]
Chicken thighs – baked chicken curry
Chicken, leek & carrot pies [this will use up puff pastry]
Spicy sausage sauce to go with pasta

I think the tuna may have to be kept with ice for a bit, can't think of any cook-ahead thing for it. Thinking about a version of koubliac with the trout ...


Question: does quiche freeze? I have the ingredients for that, and it would be a handy veggie dish for dd.

kunekune

OK, slightly easier plan than before ...

Cook and slice beef to eat in sandwiches [can then be frozen again]
Marinate chicken, cook and slice it for sandwiches [can then be frozen again]
Defrost bacon, use some in a quiche and keep rest for Sunday breakfast
Beetroot soup (does not have to be made today)
Tomato, broad bean and pasta soup
Lamb – lamb and broad bean tagine (for 2)
Chicken thighs – baked chicken curry
Spicy sausage sauce to go with pasta
Trout koubliac - http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/5778/trout-koulibiac
Quiche Lorraine [individual portions, one with leeks instead of bacon] (does not have to be made today)
Aubergine bake to use as side dish [may use some feta with this, freeze in small portions] (do this in the oven while it's on for other things)
Corn fritters to use as side dish or as main meal

Princess_lottie

torbrex wrote: »

I froze a couple of ice-packs beforehand and then put everything from the freezer into the fridge with the ice-packs.
It only took an hour to defrost the freezer using a basin with hot water and the a quick wipedown and I was able to put everything back in again, no fuss, no bother with having to cook stuff, job done.

I did this but packed the coolbox tightly with stuff from the freezer and everything stayed frozen. I put meat in between frozen veg with a couple of ice packs at the sides. Would definitely do it this way the next time.

Angelraesunshine

HI help, my large chest freezer is always full but having never been defrosted before i really need to do it now ( has been 2 years) and there is a thick ice round the corners and 2 of the sides.

but how do i do this with out losing a freezer full of food?

Thanks

jinky67

I would say either wait until you run it down a bit

or if you have a cool garage or suchlike, put all the food in there while the freezer defrosts

cuddlymarm

Hi

Is the ice stopping it working properly ? If not I'd just use up everything and then defrost. Maybe if you save the money you would spend topping it up in a savings account and then have a good refill shop once your done (if you see what I mean)

Cuddles:rotfl:

Angelraesunshine

yeah maybe you are right its works just fine and is not causing any problems and it is not covered on every side with thick ice.

Have probably got more than enough food to live off until after xmas or longer so may after todays delivery i wont buy anymore freezer food and deforst it after xmas.

thats gonna be tough though i have a thing abiout having a full freezer lol