New freezer - how can I save the food in the old one?

Garnet_Gem

I'm getting a new freezer on Monday and although I've been trying to run down the stuff in my old one I've still got 2 full drawers of frozen food. What's the best method to stop the food thawing out before my new one is up and running?

lipsthefish

Hi Garnet Gem
I was led to believe that as long as the old freezer door is kept firmly shut you will have enough time to get your other freezer up and running, or even just plug your old one into a spare power point for a while, hth

Addiscomber

Is your problem that the old freezer is being taken away as the new one arrives, or that you simply have nowhere to have them both plugged in at the same time?

Do you have a cool box or bag? If not or it is not big enough, wrap the food into several packages wrapped in loads of layers of newspaper, and keep them all together in a cardboard box. Then cover the whole caboodle with blankets, towels or duvet - whatever you have to hand. Left alone that should be sufficient until your new freezer has cooled down on the fast freeze setting.

savingsara_2

Don't forget, once your new freezer arrives it has to be left for 24 hrs in it's new home till all the gases settle.

Can you plug the old one in elsewhere till Tuesday? Or could you distribute your stuff to family/friends' freezers (temporarily ) till then?

lil_me

I kept my old one and it stayed in there. My new one also stated to leak 24 hours before switching on. I just advertised my old fridge on freecycle when I was ready to part with it.

MrsTinks

Ask some nice neighbours That's what I'd do but I have super neighbours

Ytaya

Got a coolbox/bag? Pack it all tightly in there and then wrap the bag/box in a duvet, old blankets, anything that will insulate it. Put it on the floor in the garage, if you can.

If you haven't got a coolbag, then wrap your items in a few layers of newspaper and pack tightly in a cardboard box. Wrap the box in a duvet/blankets/etc as before. Again, putting it on the garage floor will help keep it cool.

Bogof_Babe

Have a party Saturday night and use it up! If it isn't all gone, have another one on Sunday :beer: .

When ours accidentally defrosted (mentioning no names, but someone left the door open overnight :rolleyes:), we cooked everything that was cookable, and ate it over the next couple of days. We took the cooked pizzas and quiches round to friends for a cheap evening out.

Sugar_Junkie

If you can't put it in another freezer I can vouch for this method as it does work (someone suggested similar above) but I'm not sure if it'll keep it for 24 hours.

Wrap the food in several sheets of newspaper or large towels and then a thick rug or blanket and put it in a cool place. I've used this when defrosting mine which takes hours and hours but I've never tried it for as long as 24 hours which is the time it'll take for the new freezer to settle in.

scheming_gypsy

well as you need to leave your new one to settle you won't be plugging it in until you're going to start using it you don't need to unplug the old one straight away.
Leave the new one to settle away from where it's going, when it's settled move the old one, put the new one in it's place and fill with food.