How to Defrost Your Freezer The Easy Way

Last Updated on November 10, 2018 by lydiaf1963

Rick and I have an apartment sized fridge with a small freezer on top. It’s not a frost free type so ice accumulates around the sides and needs to be cleared two or three times a year. I’ve picked up a few tips that I’m going to share them so you’ll know how to defrost your freezer the easy way.

First Empty The Freezer

As you can see in the photos, we don’t have a lot of food in the freezer at the moment. It’s mostly for making ice and storing a few long term items, like a bottle of home brewed aguardiente a friend gave us. When I want to defrost my freezer, I pick a low inventory time like this.

Just transfer whatever’s in your freezer to a cooler or insulated bag while you’re working in the space. Then remove any shelves if possible.

Start the Thaw

The next step is to thaw the ice that’s accumulated around the freezer box enough that it can be scraped off. You don’t have to let the freezer thaw completely. Instead, fill a large bowl with hot water and set it inside. Then shut the door and wait for 20 to 30 minutes.

In the past I’ve used shallow bowls, but found they cooled too quickly and had to be replaced frequently. I’m all about easy when it comes to this chore.

Choose Your Tools Carefully

Choose a sturdy wooden or plastic spatula to scrape and pry at the ice on the sides of the freezer box. You risk damaging the surface if you use a metal spatula or and ice pick. For those of you who are wondering, a banana might not damage your freezer, but it’s a little too fragile for scraping and prying.

Start Scraping

Use the spatula to scrape the frost. You can make several passes. Once you’ve removed the frosty bits, any underlying ice sheets should come off easily.

Remove the Ice

Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can remove the ice by scraping it out of the freezer into a bowl. You’ll end up with a mess on the floor (ask me how I know). Instead, set the bowl inside the freezer and use your hands or a large, non metal spoon to scoop the ice into the bowl for removal.

I was surprised at the amount of ice that had collected. So I weighed it with my kitchen scale. It was over five pounds!

If your freezer is long overdue for a defrosting you may have to repeat the steps. When all the frost and sheets of ice have been removed wipe the freezer down with a damp towel. While you’re there, take time to wipe the door and around the seals as well.

All that’s left to do is replace the shelf and the items that were removed earlier.