How to Defrost a Freezer

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

Rate: (4 Ratings)

These days, many people are lucky enough to have frost-free freezers in their homes. However, there is hope for those who must still battle the small icebergs that grow their freezers. Here are several effective methods for melting those glacial nightmares.

Flag Article

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

A cooler
Two pots
Towels

The Boiling Water Method

Step1

Empty the freezer of its contents. Put the food in the cooler.

Step2

If possible, break off the largest protrusions of ice. It will be easier for the freezer to defrost if the frost consists mostly of small pieces.

Step3

Boil a pot of water and fill a second pot to have at the ready.

Step4

Put the boiling pot of water in the freezer and close the door. The heat from the water should start defrosting the freezer after a few minutes.

Step5

Boil the second pot of water.

Step6

Switch the pot in the freezer with the one on the stove after 10 minutes and place the first pot back on the burner.

Step7

Continue alternating the pots of water every 10 minutes until your unit defrosts.

The Empty and Unplug Method

Step1

Empty the food from your freezer and refrigerator. Put the food in the cooler.

Step2

Turn refrigerator temperature down to zero.

Step3

Open freezer doors and wait for the freezer to manually defrost.

Step4

Soak up the melting ice with the towels.

Tips & Warnings

Wait until your freezer is almost empty of food before defrosting.
Be prepared to soak up plenty of water from the floor and freezer. There will be more water than there appears to be when it is solid.
When loading the cooler, put the food requiring the lowest temperatures in the bottom of the cooler, as cold air goes down.
Make sure you are diligent about soaking up the water, otherwise you're liable to have a flooded kitchen.