Miele F 456 i-2 User manual

Operating and installation instructions
Freezer
F 456 i-2
It is essential to read these
operating instructions before
installing or using the machine,
to avoid the risk of accident
or damage to the machine.
G
M.-Nr. 06 151 240

Description of the appliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Caring for the environment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Warning and Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
How to save energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Switching off for longer periods of time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
The correct temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Temperature selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Temperature display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Alarm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Switching the alarm tone off early . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Super freeze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Freezing fresh food . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Super freeze. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Switching on super freeze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Freezing and storing food. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Maximum freezing capacity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Storing frozen food. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Home freezing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Hints on home freezing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Packing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Before placing food in the freezer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Placing food in the freezer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Freezer calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Marker system for frozen food . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Defrosting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Ice cubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Cooling drinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Freezer tray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Ice pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Defrosting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Cleaning and care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Interior and accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Ventilation gaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Door seal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Problem solving guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Contents

Noises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Service Department. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Electrical connection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Electrical connection U.K. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Climate range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Ventilation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Before installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Building into a peninsular run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
If the old appliance had a different hinging system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Building in dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Changing the door hinging. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Building in the appliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Fitting a furniture door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Contents

aAlarm button and indicator light
bTemperature display
eDrawer with freezer calendar
fMarker system for frozen food
cSuper freeze button and indicator
light
dOn/off and temperature selector dial
Description of the appliance
4

Disposal of the packing
material
The transport and protective packing
has been selected from materials which
are environmentally friendly for
disposal, and can normally be
recycled.
Ensure that any plastic wrappings,
bags etc. are disposed of safely and
kept out of the reach of babies and
young children. Danger of suffocation!
Rather than just throwing these
materials away, please ensure that they
are recycled.
Disposal of your old appliance
Please ensure that the appliance
presents no danger to children while
being stored for disposal.
It should be unplugged or
disconnected from the mains electricity
supply by a competent person. The
plug must be rendered useless and the
cable cut off directly behind the
appliance to prevent misuse. See the
"Warning and Safety" section of this
booklet for further details.
Electrical and electronic appliances
often contain materials which, if
handled or disposed of incorrectly,
could be potentially hazardous to
human health and to the environment.
They are, however, essential for the
correct functioning of your appliance.
Please dispose of your old appliance at
your local community waste collection /
recycling centre and not with your
household waste.
Take care not to damage the pipework
at the back of it before or during
transportation to an authorised
collection depot.
In this way, refrigerant in the pipework
and oil in the compressor will be
contained, and will not leak out into the
environment.
Caring for the environment
5

This appliance complies with all
relevant legal safety requirements.
Inappropriate use can however lead
to personal injury and damage to
property.
To avoid the risk of accidents and
damage to the appliance, read the
instructions carefully before using for
the first time. They contain important
notes on installation, safety,
operation and care of the appliance.
Keep these operating instructions in
a safe place and pass them on to
any future user.
Correct use
This appliance is intended for
domestic use only, to store deep
frozen food, freeze fresh food and to
make ice.
Any other usage is not supported by
the manufacturer and could be
dangerous. The manufacturer cannot
be held liable for damage caused by
incorrect or improper use of the
appliance.
This appliance is not a toy! To avoid
the risk of injury, do not allow
children to play on or near it, or to
play with the controls. Supervise its
use by the elderly or infirm.
Technical safety
This appliance contains the coolant
Isobutane (R600a), a natural gas
which is very environment friendly.
Although it is flammable, it does not
damage the ozone layer and does not
increase the green house effect. The
use of this coolant has, however, led to
a slight increase in the noise level of the
appliance. In addition to the noise of
the compressor, you might be able to
hear the coolant flowing around the
system. This is unavoidable, but does
not have any adverse effect on the
performance of the appliance.
Care must be taken during
transportation and setting up of the
appliance that no parts of the coolant
system are damaged. Leaking coolant
can damage the eyes.
In the event of any damage:
- avoid open fires
and anything which creates a spark,
- disconnect from the mains,
- air the room in which the appliance is
located for several minutes and
- contact the Service Department
for advice.
The more coolant there is in an
appliance, the larger the room it
should be installed in. In the event of a
leakage, if the appliance is in a small
room, there is the danger of
combustible gases building up.
For every 8 g of coolant at least 1 m3
room space is required. The amount of
coolant in the appliance is stated on the
data plate inside the appliance.
Warning and Safety instructions
6

Before connecting the appliance to
the mains supply, make sure that
the rating on the data plate
corresponds to the voltage and
frequency of the household supply. This
data must correspond in order to avoid
risk of damage to the appliance.
Consult a qualified electrician if in
doubt.
The electrical safety of this
appliance can only be guaranteed
when continuity is complete between
the appliance and an effective earthing
system, which complies with local and
national safety regulations. It is most
important that this basic safety
requirement is present and regularly
tested. Where there is any doubt, the
household wiring system should be
inspected by a qualified electrician.
The manufacturer cannot be held liable
for the consequences of an inadequate
earthing system (e.g. electric shock).
Safe operation of the appliance is
only assured if it has been installed
and connected in accordance with
these operating and installation
instructions.
This equipment may only be used
in mobile installations such as
ships, caravans, aircraft etc. if a risk
assessment of the installation has been
carried out by a suitably qualified
engineer.
Installation work, maintenance and
repairs may only be carried out by
suitably qualified and competent
persons to ensure safety.
Repairs and other work by unqualified
persons could be dangerous and the
manufacturer will not be held liable.
Ensure that current is not supplied
to the appliance while maintenance
or repair work is being carried out.
The appliance is only completely
isolated from the electricity supply
when:
– it has been switched off at the wall
socket and the plug has been
withdrawn.
– the mains fuse is withdrawn, or
– or the screw-out fuse is removed (in
countries where this is applicable).
Do not connect the appliance to
the mains electricity supply by an
extension lead.
Extension leads do not guarantee the
required safety of the appliance (e.g.
danger of overheating).
Use
Never handle frozen food with wet
hands. Your hands may freeze to
the frozen food. Danger of frost burn.
Do not use any electrical
equipment in this appliance, e.g.
ice cream makers. Danger of sparking
and explosion!
Warning and Safety instructions
7

Do not take ice cubes out with your
bare hands and never place ice
cubes or ice lollies in your mouth
straight from the freezer. The very low
temperature of the frozen ice or lollies
can cause frost burn to the lips and
tongue.
Do not refreeze thawed or partially
thawed food.
Defrosted food should be used up as
quickly as possible as food soon loses
it nutritional value and goes off.
Defrosted food may only be re-frozen
after it has been cooked.
Do not store explosive materials in
the appliance or any products
containing propellants (e.g. spray
cans). Thermostats switching on may
produce sparks which could present a
fire hazard. Flammable compounds
could explode.
Do not store cans or bottles
containing carbonated drinks or
liquids which could freeze in the
freezer. The cans or bottles could
explode.
Danger of injury and damage to the
appliance.
When cooling drinks quickly in the
freezer make sure bottles are not
left in for more than one hour, otherwise
they could burst. Danger of injury and
damage to the appliance.
Observe the "use by" dates given
on food to avoid the risk of food
poisoning. Storage times will depend
on several factors including the
freshness and quality of the food as
well as the temperature at which it is
stored. Follow the instructions given on
food manufacturer’s packaging on
storage conditions required as well as
the "use by" date.
Do not use sharp edged objects to
–remove frost and ice,
–separate frozen foods and remove
ice trays. They will damage the
evaporator causing irreversible
damage to the appliance.
Never place electric heaters or
candles in the appliance to defrost
it. These can damage the plastic parts.
Do not use defrosting sprays, or
de-icers as they might contain
substances which could damage the
plastic parts or which could cause the
build up of gases and pose a danger to
health.
Do not use any oils or grease on
the door seals. These cause the
seals to deteriorate and become
porous with time.
Do not block the ventilation gaps in
the plinth or the top of the
appliance housing unit as this would
impair the efficiency of the appliance,
increase the electricity consumption
and could cause damage to the
appliance.
Warning and Safety instructions
8

The appliance is designed for use
within certain climate ranges
(ambient temperatures). It must not be
used in ranges for which it is not
designed. The climate range for your
appliance is stated on the data plate
inside the appliance.
Installing it in a room with too low an
ambient temperature, e.g. a garage,
will lead to the appliance switching off
for longer periods so that it cannot
maintain the required temperature.
Never use a steam-cleaning
appliance to defrost or clean this
appliance. Pressurised steam could
reach the electrical components and
cause a short circuit.
In countries where there are areas
which may be subject to infestation
by cockroaches or other vermin, pay
particular attention to keeping the
appliance and its surroundings in a
clean condition at all times. Any
damage which may be caused by
cockroaches or other vermin will not be
covered by the appliance guarantee.
Disposal of your old appliance
Before disposing of an old
appliance first make the door latch
or lock unusable.
This way you will prevent children from
accidentally locking themseves in and
endangering their lives.
Disconnect it from the mains. Cut
off the cable and render any plug
unusable.
Be careful not to damage any part
of the pipework whilst awaiting
disposal, e.g. by
– puncturing the refrigerant channels
in the evaporator.
– bending any pipework.
– scratching the surface coating.
Splashes of refrigerant can damage the
eyes.
The manufacturer cannot be held
liable for damage caused by
non-compliance with these Warning
and Safety instructions.
Warning and Safety instructions
9

Normal energy consumption Increased energy
consumption
Installation site In a ventilated room. In an enclosed, unventilated room.
Protected from direct sunlight. In direct sunlight.
Not situated near to a heat source
(radiator, oven).
Situated near to a heat source
(radiator, oven.
Where the ambient room
temperature is ideal at approx.
20°C.
Where there is a high ambient
room temperature.
Temperature setting with
a thermostat which is
approximate (set in
stages).
With a medium setting of 2 to 3. With a high setting: The lower the
temperature in the freezer, the
higher the energy consumption.
Temperature setting with
a thermostat which is
exact to the degree
(digital display).
Cellar section 8 to 12°C On appliances with winter setting,
please make sure that the winter
setting is switched off when the
ambient temperature is warmer
than 16 °C.
Refrigerator section 4 to 5 °C
StayFresh zone just above 0 °C
Freezer section -18°C
Use Only open the door when
necessary and for as short a time
as possible.
Frequent opening of the door for
long periods will cause a loss of
coldness.
Store food in an organised way. If food is not stored in an
organised way, searching for an
item will mean the door is open for
longer.
Allow hot food and drinks to cool
down before placing them in the
appliance.
Placing hot food in the appliance
will cause the compressor to run
for a long time, as the appliance
will have to work harder to lower
the temperature.
Store food covered or packaged. The evaporation or condensation
of liquids will cause a loss of
coldness in the refrigerator.
Place frozen food in the
refrigerator to defrost.
Do not over-fill the appliance to
allow air to circulate.
How to save energy
10

Normal energy
consumption Increased energy
consumption
Defrosting Defrost the freezer when a layer of
ice one centimetre thick has built
up.
A layer of ice hinders the cold
from reaching the frozen food, and
causes an increase in energy
consumption.
How to save energy
11

Before using for the first time
^Clean the inside of the appliance and
the accessories with luke warm water
and a little washing up liquid and
then dry using a soft cloth.
Important: To ensure correct
functioning of the appliance, let it
stand for between 1½ and 2 hour
after transporting it to its final
location before connecting it to the
mains.
Switching on
^Using a coin turn the On/Off dial in a
clockwise direction away from the "0"
position.
Forcing it beyond its range would
damage it. Turn it only as far as it will
go, then turn it back again.
The alarm indicator light flashes. An
alarm sounds after a short while and
the appliance starts cooling.
Allow the appliance to cool for a few
hours before placing food in it. This will
ensure that the temperature is
sufficiently low.
Switching off the alarm
^Press the alarm button.
The alarm stops. The indicator light
remains lit until the temperature which
has been set is reached.
Ice pack
Place the ice pack in the top drawer or
to save space on the freezer tray. The
ice pack will be at its most effective
after it has been in the freezer for
approx. 24 hours.
Switching off
^Using a coin turn the On/Off dial in an
anti-clockwise direction back to the
"0" position.
All indicator lights go out and the
cooling process is switched off.
Operation
12

Switching off for longer
periods of time
If the appliance is not going to be used
for a longer period of time, e.g. whilst
on holiday
^switch the appliance off at the mains,
^withdraw the plug (pull on the plug
and not the cable),
^defrost and clean the appliance out
and
^leave the door ajar to air the
appliance.
If, during a long absence, the
appliance is switched off but not
cleaned out and the door is left shut
there is a danger of mould and
odours building up inside the
appliance.
Operation
13

It is very important to set the correct
temperature for storing food in the
freezer. Micro organisms will cause
food which is not stored at the correct
temperature to deteriorate rapidly.
Temperature influences the growth rate
of these micro organisms. Reducing the
temperature reduces their growth rate.
For freezing fresh food and storing
frozen food for a long time a
temperature of at least -18 °C is
needed. At this temperature the growth
of micro organisms is generally halted.
As soon as the temperature rises to
above -10 °C, the micro organisms
become active in the food again so that
it cannot be kept as long. For this
reason partially defrosted or defrosted
food must not be re-frozen. Food may
be re-frozen once it has been cooked
as the high temperatures achieved
when cooking destroy most micro
organisms.
The temperature in the appliance will
rise:
–the more often the door is opened
and the longer it is kept open,
–if too much food is stored in it at
once,
–if too much fresh food is being frozen
at once,
–the higher the ambient temperature
surrounding the appliance.
The appliance is designed for use in
specific ambient temperatures
(climate ranges). Do not use in
ambient temperatures for which it is
not designed.
Temperature selection
The temperature is set with the
temperature dial.
^Using a coin turn the temperature
dial in a clockwise direction to the
required setting.
Turn it only as far as it will go, then
turn it back again. Turning it beyond
its range would damage it.
The higher the setting, the lower the
temperature in the appliance.
In normal use, a setting between 2 and
3 is generally sufficient. You should also
check the temperature inside the
appliance from time to time.
The correct temperature
14

Temperature display
During normal operation the
temperature display on the control
panel shows the temperature in the
warmest part of the appliance. Ranges
of temperatures rather than individual
temperatures are shown. This means
that the temperatures displayed are
approximate.
If you have adjusted the temperature
dial in order to set a different
temperature, wait for approx. 6 hours
if the freezer is not very full and for
approx. 24 hours if the freezer is full
before checking the temperature
display. It will take this long for the
display to show the accurate
temperature of the freezer. If the
temperature displayed is too low or too
high, then adjust the temperature once
more.
A temperature above -18 °C is no
cause for concern in the following
circumstances:
–when the appliance has just been
switched on,
–when the door has been left open for
a while, e.g. for removing or storing a
large amount of food,
–when fresh food is being frozen.
However, if the temperature remains
above -18 °C for a long time, check that
the frozen food has not started to
defrost. If this is the case, check that
the food is safe to use and if it is, then
use it as soon as possible.
The correct temperature
15

Your appliance has been fitted with a
warning system which ensures that the
temperature in the freezer cannot rise
unnoticed. It is always active. An alarm
will sound and the alarm indicator light
will flash if the temperature becomes
too warm. The setting on the
temperature control determines the
temperature the appliance recognises
as too warm.
The alarm sounds and the alarm
indicator light comes on,
–when the freezer is first switched on.
– when the door of the appliance has
been left open for a while, e.g. in
order to load, to re-arrange or to take
out food.
– when freezing a large quantity of
food.
– when there has been a lengthy
interruption to the power supply.
Switching the alarm tone off
early
The alarm stops and the indicator light
goes out once the set temperature
range has been reached. However, if
the noise disturbs you, you can turn the
alarm tone off before this if you wish.
^Press the alarm button.
The alarm stops, but the alarm
indicator light remains lit. It does not
go out until the set temperature
range has been reached.
Alarm
16

Freezing fresh food
Fresh food should be frozen as quickly
as possible. This way the nutritional
value of the food, its vitamin content,
appearance and taste are not impaired.
Food which takes a long time to freeze
will lose more water from its cells which
then shrink.
During the defrosting process only
some of this water is reabsorbed by the
cells. The rest collects around the food.
In practice this means that the food
loses a large degree of its moisture.
If food is frozen quickly the cells have
less time to lose moisture so they shrink
less.
As there is not so much moisture it is
easier for the food to reabsorb it during
the defrosting process.
Super freeze
Switch the super freeze function on
before putting fresh food into the
freezer.
Super freeze is not necessary:
–when putting in frozen food.
–when freezing up to 2 kg fresh food
daily.
Switching on super freeze
When freezing small quantities of food
in the freezer the super freeze function
should be switched on 4 - 6 hours
beforehand. When freezing the
maximum load of food the super
freeze function should be switched on
24 hours beforehand.
^Press the super freeze button. The
super freeze indicator light will come
on.
The appliance works at full power to
lower the temperature in the
appliance.
Switching super freeze off
The super freeze function will switch off
automatically after approx. 50 hours.
The super freeze indicator light will go
out and the appliance will continue to
operate at normal power.
To save energy the super freeze
function can be switched off once a
constant temperature of at least -18 °C
has been reached in the freezer.
^To switch it off press the super freeze
button. The super freeze indicator
light will go out and the appliance will
continue to operate at normal power.
Super freeze
17

Maximum freezing capacity
To ensure that fresh food placed in the
freezer freezes through to the core as
quickly as possible, the maximum
freezing capacity must not be
exceeded. The maximum freezing
capacity for freezing within a 24 hour
period is given on the data plate
"Freezing capacity ....kg/24 hrs".
Storing frozen food
When buying frozen food to store in
your freezer check
– that the packaging is not damaged,
– the use by date,
– the temperature at which the frozen
food is being stored in the shop. The
length of time it can be kept is
reduced if it has been stored at a
temperaure warmer than -18 °C.
^Buy frozen food once you have
finished the rest of your shopping
and wrap it in newspaper or use a
cool bag or box to transport it.
^Store it in the freezer as soon as
possible.
Never re-freeze partially or fully
defrosted food. Consume defrosted
food as soon as possible as it will
lose its nutritional value and spoil if
left for too long. Defrosted food may
only be re-frozen after it has been
cooked.
Home freezing
Only freeze fresh food which is in a
good condition.
Hints on home freezing
–The following types of food are
suitable for freezing:
Fresh meat, poultry, game, fish,
vegetables, herbs, fresh fruit, dairy
products, pastry, leftovers, egg
yolks, egg whites and a range of
pre-cooked meals.
–The following types of food are not
suitable for freezing:
Grapes, lettuces, radishes, sour
cream, mayonnaise, eggs in their
shells, onions, whole raw apples and
pears.
– To retain colour, taste and vitamin C,
vegetables should be blanched after
they have been trimmed and
washed. To blanch: bring a large
saucepan of water to the boil,
immerse the vegetables in the fast
boiling water for 2-3 minutes,
depending on variety. Remove and
cool quickly in cold water. Drain and
pack ready for freezing.
–Lean meat freezes better than fatty
meat and can be stored for
considerably longer.
–To prevent chops, steaks, cutlets or
rolled meat from freezing together in
solid blocks when packed, separate
with a sheet of plastic freezer film.
Freezing and storing food
18

–Do not season fresh foods or
blanched vegetables before
freezing. Only season cooked food
lightly before freezing but care
should be taken as the taste of some
spices alters when frozen.
–Do not place hot foods or drinks in
the freezer. This causes already
frozen food to thaw and increases
the energy consumption
considerably. Allow hot foods and
drinks to cool down before placing
them in the freezer.
Packing
^Freeze food in portions.
Suitable packing material
- plastic freezer film
- freezer bags
- aluminium foil
- freezer containers.
Freezer bags may also be sealed
using home heat sealing kits.
^Expel as much air as possible from
bags etc. before sealing them to
prevent freezer burn on food.
^Close the packaging tightly with
- rubber bands
- plastic clips
- string or bag ties
- freezer tape
^Make a note of the contents and the
date of freezing on the packaging.
Unsuitable packing material
- wrapping paper
- grease-proof paper
- cellophane
- bin bags
- plastic carrier bags
Before placing food in the freezer
^When freezing more than 2 kg of
fresh food, switch on the Super
freeze function for a while before
placing the food in the freezer (see
"Super freeze").
Placing food in the freezer
Fresh food can be placed in any
drawer for freezing, however it is
preferable to use the upper drawers.
Large quantities can be placed directly
on the evaporator plates to freeze the
food quickly. To do this first take out
one or several freezer drawers.
Each drawer and evaporator plate
can be loaded with a maximum of
25 kg.
^Make sure that the packaging and
containers are dry to prevent them
sticking together when frozen.
^Place the food flat in the bottom of
the drawers or on the evaporator
plates in the freezer so that it freezes
through to the core as quickly as
possible.
When freezing, make sure that food
already frozen does not come into
contact with fresh food being frozen
as this could cause the frozen food
to begin to defrost.
Freezing and storing food
19

Freezer calendar
The freezer calendar on the freezer
drawer gives the length of time which
various foods can be stored for
effectively.
Where the storage time given on the
packaging differs, follow the advice on
the packaging.
Marker system for frozen food
Markers serve as a reminder of how
long food has been stored.
Each freezer drawer has two slide
markers with dials. The months are
represented on the dials as 1 - 12.
^Slide the markers onto the guide
runners on the edge of the drawers.
Use the markers to indicate the type of
food being frozen and turn the dials to
the appropriate number to indicate the
month the food was first placed in the
freezer.
Defrosting
Frozen food can be defrosted in
different ways:
–in the microwave oven,
–in the oven using the "Fan" or
"Defrost" setting,
–at room temperature,
–in the fridge.
Fruit should be defrosted at room
temperature in its packing or in a
covered bowl.
Most vegetables can be cooked while
still frozen. Just put straight into boiling
water or hot fat. The cooking time is
slightly less than that of fresh
vegetables.
Poultry It is particularly important to
observe food hygiene rules when
defrosting poultry. Do not use the liquid
from defrosted poultry. Pour it away and
wash the container it was in, the sink
and your hands.
Never re-freeze partially or fully
defrosted food. Consume defrosted
food as soon as possible as it will
lose its nutritional value and spoil if
left for too long. Defrosted food may
only be re-frozen after it has been
cooked.
Freezing and storing food
20