Defrosting a chest freezer is an essential household chore and although you might be keen to put it off you definitely shouldn’t. In fact, as soon as you see the ice building up in your chest freezer, it’s a good idea to swing into action. Here we explain why…

Should you defrost a chest freezer?

The simple answer to this question is “yes”. Even auto defrost freezers require manual defrosting periodically. This probably isn’t a high priority on your “to do” list and you may be constantly trying to put it off, but believe us, it has to be done. Not only will you free up more storage space but you could reduce your energy bills. And those are just two excellent reasons to spend time defrosting a chest freezer we think. Unfortunately, your chest freezer is unlikely to stay cold all the time. This is because we are always opening and closing the top as we put things in and take them out. This means that warm air is meeting cold air and every time it does this it is causing condensation. This moisture then freezes, and this forms ice and frost. As the months go by this frost will build up and this is what needs to be removed. It can also result in freezer burn which is the frost that forms on the foodstuffs. It won’t be harmful, but it could impair the flavour and texture of the food.

Five tips for defrosting a chest freezer

1.Defrost regularly

Ideally defrosting a chest freezer should happen at least once a year, maybe every six months, especially if it is an older model and prone to the build up of ice. Basically, if your build up of ice is thicker than 6mm it is time to defrost! The reason? Well, have you ever delved into a frosty freezer and tried to find what you are looking for? It doesn’t exactly make everything accessible, does it? Another advantage  of  defrosting a chest freezer is that it will work much more efficiently and that means it will use less energy, so it’s better for the environment and maybe even a more wallet-friendly move too. 

 2.Remove the contents before you start

You cannot get away with keeping food in the freezer while it is defrosting. This is because the food itself will defrost and once that happens you need to cook it or eat it straightaway. You definitely must not re freeze defrosted foodstuffs.

 3.Know how to defrost a freezer UK

Make defrosting a chest freezer part of your cleaning routine if you can then you’ll be able to keep on top of the job in hand.

4.The best and quickest way to defrost a freezer

You can speed up the process by using a hair drier or heat gun (although you need to take care with electrical equipment in close proximity to water) or hastening the process using hot water or rubbing alcohol. You can also use a heated putty knife or spatula to scrape off some of the ice but ensure that whatever you use for this is made from plastic and not metal which can damage the interior.

 5.Make friends with your neighbours

While keeping your frozen foods in freezer bags surrounded by ice is an option, asking neighbours to store them for you is an even better idea. Just say you’ll do the same for them in the future!

What is the best and quickest way to defrost a freezer?

  • Turn off and unload the chest freezer

You need to remove all the contents of your chest freezer and store them in cooler bags surrounded by ice to keep them from thawing. If you do a regular scheduled defrost then a few weeks beforehand you may want to think about using up some of the frozen foods so that you don’t have  an overwhelming amount of  foodstuffs to deal with. Once this is done, you need to turn off and unplug your freezer. If it’s in a shed or garage, then you may not be too bothered about all the water melting onto the floor, however, if it is in your kitchen you need to work out where the water is going to go.

  • Protect the floor

If you are defrosting a chest freezer in the kitchen, you’ll need to lay something down on the floor to prevent the water going everywhere. You could use plastic sheeting, newspaper, or towels to absorb the moisture. You’ll have to squeeze these out as the ice melts and it’s also probably a good idea to place towels actually inside the freezer itself to soak up the moisture. If your chest freezer has a drainage hose, then this will be a great way to assist with the removal of water.

  • Leave it to defrost

The easiest way to defrost your chest freezer is to just let the ice melt in its own time. You can use towels, cloths or newspapers to mop up the melt as you go along.

  • Turn back on

Switch the freezer on but ensure that it is at the correct temperature before you reload.

​How long does it take a chest freezer to defrost?

If you just leave it to defrost on its own, then you are looking at several hours for it to defrost. Of course, it depends upon factors such as the temperature of the room and just how much ice has built up in the interior. It could be as little as two hours but more if there has been substantial ice build-up.

Of course, you could always invest in a frost-free freezer which should save you all the effort of a manual defrost. Chest freezers aren’t actually available as frost free but  at Home Feeling we have a range of freestanding frost free freezers and low frost freezers that may be just the time-saver you need. Why not tap on the link here: www.homefeeling.co.uk/refrigeration/freezers  to find out more.