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Find out how long your food will keep in the freezer
by Martin Rupf
How to defrost your freezer
10.7.2024
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
Getting rid of ice buildup in your freezer just before the summer holidays makes perfect sense. It’s a great way to use up all the food you’ve frozen plus you’ll save power during your absence. Not to mention the satisfaction of decluttering. This is how to get defrosting right.
My podcast partner Judith’s freezer defrosted. By accident, that is. You can hear all about this fiasco in the latest episode of the Swiss-German podcast «Uftischt». The horror unfolds 9:30 minutes into the podcast.
The story made me realise I’ve never defrosted my freezer. This is important from time to time, as ice forms in the freezer and the appliance works less efficiently. In other words, it consumes more electricity than necessary. What’s more, the occasional thorough clean is never a bad thing either.
Use or store frozen food?
We tend to keep things in the freezer that we’re not going to end up eating. Out of sight, out of mind. So I’d recommend taking stock first and asking yourself what you’re still going to eat. My coworker Martin wrote a piece on this.
You can now use any foods that are still okay for consumption or store them temporarily. Cool boxes or cool bags are perfect for this. If you don’t have either, ask your neighbour if they’ll mind your peas and mini pizzas for you for a bit. If that isn’t an option, wrap your frozen food in newspaper and put it in an insulated bag. This should be enough to bridge the time until your freezer’s defrosted. If the outside temperature’s below zero, you can also put the frozen items on the balcony. Again, using newspaper to wrap the things in is a good idea.
Fast or slow?
First, take out all the freezer drawers before switching it off. Next, you’ll need time, patience and a few towels. If your freezer is on the floor, you could also use a baking tray to catch the water. Otherwise, you’ll have to keep mopping up the water with towels. This takes time, as a freezer is really well insulated and takes a while to defrost.
To speed up the process, try placing a bowl of hot water in the switched-off freezer. But don’t leave it out of your sight, otherwise you’ll have a flood on your hands. A hairdryer should do the trick, too.
Source: Source: Shutterstock
Gentle cleaning
Once the freezer’s thawed out, wipe it down with a multi-purpose cleaner and a cloth. White vinegar works really well, too. Stay away from harsh kitchen cleaners, as they could attack the plastic in the freezer.
Oh, and remember to avoid Judith’s mistake. She accidentally left the freezer door open after the job was done and needed to use or chuck the thawed food right away. Fortunately, it was only bread in her case.
Click here to listen to «Uftischt» on Spotify or here to subscribe to it in the app you use.
Header image: Shutterstock
Simon Balissat
Teamleader Editorial
Simon.Balissat@digitecgalaxus.chWhen I flew the family nest over 15 years ago, I suddenly had to cook for myself. But it wasn’t long until this necessity became a virtue. Today, rattling those pots and pans is a fundamental part of my life. I’m a true foodie and devour everything from junk food to star-awarded cuisine. Literally. I eat way too fast.
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