How to get the most out of your freezer

Freezing food is the most expensive and energy-consuming of all preserving methods, so it pays to run your equipment as economically as possible. Here are some helpful tips to help you save money and energy.

• Locate your freezer away from heating appliances (this includes dishwashers) and out of direct sunlight.
• Temperature fluctuations in home freezer units are unavoidable, but in order to slow deterioration, try to minimize the number of times the unit is opened. If you plan to do a lot of freezing consider running two freezers – one for freezing and short-term storage, the other for long-term storage.
• Keep the door seal free of crumbs and check that the door is tightly sealed all round when closed.
• Wash regularly with a solution of vinegar and water to inhibit mould growth. To avoid switching off the freezer accidentally, use masking tape to secure the plug in place with the switch at the 'on' position.

Keep your freezer well defrosted for maximum efficiency. For manual and cyclic defrost models this means defrosting at least twice a year. Although you should always defrost if frost build-up is excessive, try to do it when stocks are low.

• To defrost manually, switch off the power, then remove all food and place it in insulated containers in the refrigerator, or wrap well in thick layers of newspaper.
• Carefully remove frost with a plastic scraper.
• Quickly wash the interior with a cloth dipped in a solution of 30 millilitres (two tablespoons) of bicarbonate of soda in one litre (four cups) of warm water.
• Thoroughly dry all surfaces then switch the power on and let the freezer run for 20 minutes before replacing food.
• If you have a frost-free freezer, wash the interior with a bicarbonate of soda solution every month or so.

In a power failure, do not open the freezer door; it will let out the cold.

• Food in a full freezer should stay frozen for at least 24 hours, and up to 36 hours.
• Cover the door seals with several thicknesses of newspaper or a heavy blanket to improve insulation and reduce heat leakage.
• When power is restored, open the freezer and check its contents for signs of thawing.
• Any food that has begun to thaw should be either cooked and then refrozen (as soups, stews or casseroles) or used within three days.

Keep these tips in mind and save money by using your freezer efficiently!