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It may sound like defrosting a fridge isn’t such a complicated process. So, dealing with a smaller version of the fridge, a mini-fridge, should be even easier. Well, while we admit it’s not an extremely complicated process, there are some things you need to know to make sure you get the best way to defrost a mini fridge. Not doing this properly, even if you have the best mini fridge, there’s a good chance you can damage the device or make it lose its properties over time. So, no matter if you don’t know how to defrost mini fridge and full-size devices or you’re just curious to see if you’ve been doing it right all this time, this article is for you.
Defrosting Mini Fridge Models
We’re jumping straight into the subject and start by looking at how to defrost a mini fridge. First of all, we need to explore the two ways of defrosting the best mini fridge models. The newer ones come with a “Defrost” function you can just press and let the device do its thing. Without this function, you need to do everything manually and that’s not something you should worry about. We’re going to cover both methods to defrost a mini fridge with freezer in the following paragraphs. For now, let’s see why it is important to defrost even the best mini fridge regularly.
Accumulation of frost is not only bad because it limits the space you have in the mini-fridge, but it can also become a threat from a bacterial point of view. Even if you own a mini fridge without freezer, if you keep it turned on for several months on a row, you will end up with ice in it.
How to Defrost a Mini Fridge Freezer
There’s no special procedure to defrost a mini fridge freezer. When you defrost the best mini fridge, the freezer will defrost along with the rest of the fridge. The only difference comes from the time needed to defrost the freezer. Since the rest of the fridge usually functions at above 0 temperature, it won’t take too long to defrost. However, you need to be more patient with the freezer, even with the best mini fridge models.
Here are the steps you need to follow when defrosting a mini-fridge with or without freezer:
- Remove all the items from the freezer and fridge – it would be ideal to consume or cook anything that you think won’t make it until the fridge is cold again. Or, you can take the more sensible products to a friend’s or neighbor’s fridge.
- Once the defrosting mini fridge starts to heat up, water will start to drip. Some models come with a special orifice that collects the water. Even if you don’t own the best mini fridge with the orifice to collect water, you can easily clean it manually during the defrost procedure.
- Make sure the door is open wide so that any bad smells also go out during the defrost. Speaking of bad smells, when covering this guide on how to defrost a mini fridge freezer, we need to warn you that if you keep meat or other food that decay easily in the absence of cold temperatures, there’s a big chance you will have to deal with really bad smells as the fridge warms up. Resist the idea of using any air refreshers or sprays to get rid of the smell. Just let the fridge defrost and clean it properly using a clean cloth
How Long Does It Take a Mini Fridge to Defrost?
Since we’re talking about smaller fridge models, you shouldn’t worry too much about the time needed for the entire operation to be over. If you don’t wait too long between defrosting sessions, you can be done in as little as a half of hour. Of course, the time it takes to defrost the best mini fridge with a defrost function will be lower than a cheaper model.
How Often Should You Defrost a Mini Fridge?
If you own one of the best mini fridge modes, there’s a big chance you will never have to run a full-scale defrost. However, even the best bottom freezer refrigerator need maintenance and it’s recommended that you do it at least twice per year. If you don’t own the best mini fridge and your model is older, you need to check the ice in the freezer and perform a defrost each time the thickness of the ice goes over 3 centimeters.
Now that you know how to defrost a mini fridge without making a mess and you know exactly what the steps are, all you need to do is figure out if the model you bought needs defrosting, to begin with. Even if you the best mini fridge with automatic defrost, you should still consider doing it manually every now and then since this gives you the chance to refresh the entire fridge and wipe it clean to avoid any bad smells or bacteria buildup.
For more tips on how to properly maintain any kitchen appliances, interesting tips and tricks on how to make the most out of your kitchen or reviews of the best utensils and products, you can trust Mykitchenadvisor. Check out our other blog posts and you won’t have to double guess yourself ever again when it comes to something even remotely related to your kitchen.
