How to defrost a freezer (and how not too!)

If every visit to the freezer is turning into a battle of strength between you and the freezer draw, from which you only sometimes emerge triumphant, then it’s probably in need of defrosting!

Unfortunately there is no fast way to defrost a freezer (try telling that to the guy in this video), but there are a few things you can do to make it a less laborious task next time.

1. Unplug the freezer
2. Empty the freezer of all food drawers.
3. Either wrap food in newspaper and place in cool bags in the coolest part of the house, or transfer to the second freezer in the garage (we’ve all got one… what’s that about?!)
4. Lay towels or newspaper at the base of the freezer to absorb the ice as it melts
5. Place bowls of just boiled water in the freezer to speed up the thawing
6. Come back to the freezer after about 20 minutes and use a blunt non metal item such as a wooden spoon to scrape off as much ice as you can. (Note: using a sharp metal object is dangerous for you and will possibly damage the freezer)
7. Refresh the bowls of water with more just boiled water and leave again (Note: this whole process could take a couple of hours depending on how bad your freezer has gotten!)
8. Once the freezer is fully defrosted, take the opportunity to give it a clean.
9. TIP: wipe the inside with bicarbonate of soda – this will ensure that next time you come to defrost your freezer, the ice will fall off in sheets
10. Plug the freezer back in and replace the food

This is the easiest way to defrost a freezer. It may not seem like it, but many of the ‘quick fix’ solutions are dangerous, such as using a hairdryer, or this blokes ingenious idea to use an iron… both could result in electrocution.  If you really don’t want to have to bother doing this again, maybe consider investing in a frost free freezer.