As fall brings cooler temperatures, it’s the ideal time to start cooking soups, stews and other family favorites. It’s also the perfect time to defrost your freezer so that you can prevent unnecessary issues. Defrosting will protect the quality and safety of your freezer foods. Here are the main benefits of autumn freezer defrosting.
Improve the Freezer’s Efficiency
When your freezer develops a coating of ice on its interior walls and shelving, it must work harder to maintain its temperature. This can decrease the efficiency of your freezer and raise your monthly energy bills. A few millimeters of ice can increase energy use by approximately 10%.
The efficiency of your freezer impacts your carbon footprint as well as your household budget. Help to protect the environment by defrosting your freezer each fall. You can also extend the longevity of your freezer by avoiding efficiency issues.
Open Up More Space
A layer of ice on the inside of your freezer can take up valuable space. By defrosting your freezer each fall, you can regain some of this space. When you start to cook in bulk this winter, you’ll have ample storage.
Ice formation can also make it difficult to store your items. Ice tends to form on the top of the freezer as well as the shelves. You may find that items slide around or don’t fit like they usually do when your freezer needs defrosting.
Preserve the Quality of Frozen Food
A thick formation of ice can cause inconsistent temperatures inside your freezer. This can impact the quality of your food, which may develop freezer burn. This occurs when moisture in the food escapes and accumulates on the surface. When you defrost your freezer, you can maintain the texture, flavor and quality of your frozen food.
Consider Food Safety
With inconsistent temperatures comes the potential for the growth of bacteria. Defrosting your freezer each fall can cut your risk of foodborne illness. Not to mention that removing bacteria from inside your freezer can prevent bad smells from developing.
While you’re in the process of defrosting your freezer, inspect the items you are storing. Then you can use up whatever is still safe and throw away anything that is questionable or very old.
Meat typically lasts six to 12 months. Vegetables and fruit last eight to 12 months. If you have prepared food in your freezer, use it within two to three months.
Give your freezer the maintenance it deserves in anticipation of winter. Contact our team at Signature Appliance in Chattanooga, TN to schedule an appointment for freezer maintenance today.
