Monica Hewitt is an accomplished chef with an extensive background in setting up kitchens around the world. From selecting kitchenware and kitchen utensils to menu planning, Monica has been responsible for establishing complete restaurants from the ground up. As the Kitchen and Cooking Expert at Homesthetics, Monica is in charge of reviewing and curating all cooking and kitchen-related content on the platform. In her free time, Monica is a good sport, enjoying critiquing our homemade meals around the clock and telling us what could have been improved in sandwiches.
Freezer frost causes an ice buildup, which happens when there is accumulated frozen moisture inside.
The evaporator coils inside and could freeze! The freezer door closes completely, and pulling it open is hard.
All the frost buildup can lead to all sorts of defects you don't want to face. This can happen even to the best chest freezer!
What Causes Freezer Frost?
There are a lot of reasons why you could have major frost buildup. Knowing what these are can help prevent them from happening.
High Humidity
Humidity is the number one cause of frost buildup. Allowing warm air to enter the freezer can produce humidity, and ice crystals form inside.
If your freezer door doesn't have an airtight seal, it's probably one of the reasons why warm air gets in.
That being said, don't put hot foods inside or place a freezer beside warm appliances.
The Wrong Temperature
Always know the appropriate temperature to set your freezer. More importantly, don't keep tinkering with the controls!
The proper freezer temperature should always be at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the optimal temperature to keep food stored safely.
Keeping the Freezer Door Open
Leaving freezer doors open causes frost in your freezer. Make sure to keep it completely shut to prevent warm air from going in.
It will also help if you don't overpack your freezer so you won't have difficulty closing the doors.
A Mostly-Empty Freezer
Don't leave your freezer running if there's nothing in there. It will just result in frost buildup that can damage your freezer!
The more cold air inside, the more build-up there will be. You can turn off your freezer when not in use or store a few items to prevent ice buildup.
How to Remove Freezer Frost
Removing freezer frost is simple; you can start by switching off your freezer and getting it to room temperature.
You can turn on the defrost heater or defrost cycle to speed things up. Try removing as many things in the freezer, and have a rag and mop in hand.
Once all the ice has melted, you can start cleaning to have frost-free freezers!
How to Prevent Ice Buildup in Your Freezer
A few prevention tips help avoid frost buildup even with the best upright freezers in hand. We've listed some basic tips here for you to get started!
Get the Right Refrigerator/Freezer
What kind of refrigerator do you need, and what features are you looking for?
Finding the right type of freezer makes sure you get to maximize its use and avoid frost buildup.You want it to be a manageable size for you.
Regularly Check the Parts of the Freezer
It's always a good idea to check up on your freezer. One of the first few things you must watch out for is the defrost thermostat and defrost timers.
You also want to ensure that the door seal remains airtight to prevent frost from forming. Finally, make sure that the evaporator coils are still highly functional.
Tip
Watch out for malfunctioning defrost timers and a worn or damaged gasket.
Keep the Door Closed
Keep the freezer door closed when not in use. It will keep cool air out and leave the insides of your freezer warm. You might end up spoiling your food and impact food quality!
Another part of keeping the door closed is ensuring the door seal remains functional. Check it from time to time for your freezer's efficiency.
Store Food Carefully
One of the fastest ways to cool hot food is by sticking it inside the freezer. But did you know that by letting food cool in the freezer, you get more ice buildup and frosting?
Try preventing this practice to avoid all the moisture from forming. Only place cooled food inside and not hot food.
Keep the Freezer Well-Stocked
No one wants an empty freezer! If you've got a ton of freezer storage space, stock it with your essentials.
Don't leave too much space for cold air to move around inside. Just make sure to follow food safety practices whenever you're stocking up.
Frost in Freezer Related FAQs
Before we go, allow us to answer one of the common FAQs we get. We’re sure this will help you in the future!
What Happens if You Don't Remove Freezer Frost?
A lot of things can happen if you don’t remove freezer frost. We’ve listed some of them here to know what you’re up against:
Reduced freezer storage space
Emits nasty odor
Freezer burn taste on frozen food
Freezer’s evaporator coils inside
Preventing this from happening is a lot better than having to spend a ton of money to fix the problem.
Keep the interior walls of your freezer free of ice! A frost-free freezer lets you maximize your freezer to its full potential and store more storage containers.
You can also check out the best mini freezers if you only require a little storage.
We hope you enjoyed this article. Let us know in the comments how you got rid of your nasty freezer frost at home. We'd love to hear it.
