How to organize and DEFROST A CHEST FREEZER (like a pro!)

HOW TO DEFROST AND ORGANIZE A CHEST FREEZER! Plus, pros and cons of a chest freezer versus an upright. And FREE printable freezer inventory list and freezer defrosting checklist.
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[@autumndawn711]

I use the drawers out of the cheap plastic organizer dressers. You often see them at Walmart. They fit right in my freezer and the depth is perfect so I can stand quart bags upright. It has made it so much easier to find and use things.

[@c.c.c.9403]

❤❤❤❤thank you so very much wounderful short cuts for s2 70 year-old handicap adults and our freezer. We are having our first steer coming bk next week so I definitely need to defrost and organize. God bless you 🙏🏼 ❤️ thank you.

[@lydiah7184]

Printing the freezer list immediately! Thank you, Crystal! You’re my favorite homesteader.

[@wholefedhomestead]

Aww thanks! 🥰🥰

[@tammym110]

I love the banana box idea. Great video and so timely. Our freezer is 14 months old and it needs to be defrosted

[@wholefedhomestead]

Thanks! They are such perfect boxes for this! 😊😅

[@vivienspark]

Thanks Crystal, will definitely print the inventory list, it's something I've been trying to figure out for a while. I already have your book, I refer to it all the time. I'm so motivated now! Now just need to Tom Sawyer my husband 😂

[@wholefedhomestead]

Haha! And thanks so much! 🥰

[@lisatucker7269]

Thanks for the great ideas! 😊

[@nosilverharbinger]

You mentioned the ice building up around the door area of the freezer compartment at 00:52. Yes, ice can build up there and prevent the door from seating properly. Another culprit for this is that ice builds up in the freezer door itself that will warp the door over time and damage the insulation from over compression. To avoid this what I do every time I defrost a chest freezer is take it outside with the door open and let the door drain out. Depending on how much ice is in there the process can take hours. Just expect it to take way longer than to remove the ice and water from the freezer compartment. It also makes a serious watery mess, so that’s why I take it outside. On a side note, cleaning out the compressor area is a great thing to do while defrosting. It will also extend the life of the appliance, and if the freezer is kept in an area like a garage where bugs get in spiders love to lay their eggs there among other things.

[@jenwych]

I'm so happy to have found your page! I know I'll get a lot of hate for this but of all of the home steaders I have tried to follow they were bible beaters with a ton of kids. It's nice to see a couple who is child free and home steaders!

[@wholefedhomestead]

💗💗

[@gettingoutofthebasement8597]

Mine needs to be defrosted, but more than that organized. What's in my freezer? Peaches? Chicken? No idea, there's an entire deer laying on top just loosey-goosey! Putting this on my to-do for the weekend :)

[@wholefedhomestead]

😂😂

[@ceciliapreziose3783]

EXCELLENT

[@johnreydelatorre3450]

More organization vids ❤

[@rubypanterra.]

🖤

[@asgardian6638]

Why dont use anything with heat like warm water or hair dryer? When searching fastest ways to defrost i saw people using pots of boiling water (just put the pots on a towel) then close the lid to cause the ice to melt quickly. I also thought about using my heat gun (not too close) because i may even be able to do that without removing the food and letting all the cold air out. Im just trying to find info if this could damage the freezer where im aiming the heat gun.

[@wholefedhomestead]

It is never recommended to use heat. Going from very cold to hot can warp, crack, or otherwise damage the freezer walls.

[@asgardian6638]

@@wholefedhomestead Thanks

[@bethevans85]

I need to do our freezers and for some reason I thought they would need to be off for days for a defrost! Now I'm excited to get our freezers done. We have 3 uprights and 1 chest. Should the uprights be done the same as the chest freezers?

[@wholefedhomestead]

Yes- unless the uprights are self defrosting… then they likely don’t even need it.

[@paulawhite2882]

I think your book is worth owning! I don't like to have a lot of books on hand and I generally check them out from the library first to see if I like them. Yours is one of them+ Freezers.....I don't think there is a perfect one. Upright, chest. I look at your chest and think, I don't want to have to pull out boxes to get to.....I have an upright, and it still seems unorganized and a little annoying to get into, even though I try to organize it. You make great and informative videos. I like how you voice over, if that is what you call+

[@wholefedhomestead]

Appreciate that, thank you! 💗

[@vatkifromcali]

Doesn't the ice make the cardboard week. I could see me lifting out the box and the bottom falling out

[@wholefedhomestead]

Nope- but we are careful to use sturdy boxes. Some boxes we’ve had in use for 5+ years!

[@bevstegeman]

I want to defrost my chest freezer. There is a closed box full of canning jars with I-don't-know-what-it-is frozen to the side and bottom of the freezer. I'm sure I don't want what's inside, other than the jars themselves. How do I get this out of the freezer?

[@wholefedhomestead]

You probably need to let the freezer warm and thaw for a bit longer to let the box release naturally (sounds like maybe some of the jars broke?).

[@anneg8319]

Yep...mine needs defrosted...