Defrosting the freezer

Lyndsay_21

i really want to defrost the freezer as it is full of ice and really needs to be done. What do i do with the food inside it whilst its defrosting? and how do i catch all the water that leaks out, i'm in a flat so can't take it outside to defrost.

any help gratefully recieved

Pink.

Hi Lyndsay,

This older thread should help: How Do you Defrost Your Freezers?

I'll merge your thread with that one later to keep all the suggestions together.

Pink

tanith

Lyndsay do you have a insulated bag or box that you use for picnics or carrying frozen shopping home from supermarket? if Yes just use that and pack it tight... if No then put your frozen stuff in supermarket bags and pile them together on an old towel/blanket/quilt and then wrap them tightly , they will stay frozen ok for several hours like this....

Once my freezer is empty they usually have a plastic drip thing at the bottom that you can position over an old shallow oven tray on another old towel and let the water drip into that,tuck the towel underneath the front of the freezer to catch any drips that don't go in the tray...... but I hurry the job up with a hairdryer and then lift out all the large lumps of ice by hand , do not use a knife to scrape incase you damage the freezer....

Good luck

Lyndsay_21

thanks will have a go later i think :eek:

Lyndsay_21

just wondering as its a fridge freezer what happens to the fridge shall i just leave the stuff in there? also do i actually turn the electricity off or leave it still powered up?

tanith

Its ok to leave stuff in the fridge unless you want to clean that out as well...Its best to switch off the power if you can but mine is difficult to reach as its behind the freezer so I just switch it off by the inside switch...

its not that difficult once you get started and a frozen up freezer uses loads more electricity so I understand so get going on it before the summer comes along....

dannahaz

Hi, just a thought. If it's a fridge freezer then you may find it has a DEFROST setting for the freezer, which kinda turns off the freezer without turning off the fridge.

nikibella

Hi
to defrost the freezer quickly you shall put a few bowls (glass or ceramic) filled with hot water inside the freezer, then close the door. After a few minutes the ice blocks start to loosen, remove them carefully while they are still frozen, and put in the sink. If they don't looze at once try to loosen them with a plastic or coated spatule, then clean the freezer when no more ice is left.

Lyndsay_21

ok another stupid question, what about using de-icer like you get for the car would that work too as no-one has mentioned it??

tanith

Not sure about this but I think deicer is made of something poisonous... I wouldn't try it if I were you there a less dangerous things to try like the hot water in a bowl

EDIT: Just realised I was thinking of anti-freeze but I still don't think its a good idea....