Miele F 456 i-3 User manual

Operating and installation instructions
Freezer
F 456 i-3
To avoid the risk of accidents or
damage to the appliance, it is
essential to read these instructions
before it is installed and used for the
first time.
G
M.-Nr. 06 993 960

Guide to the appliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Caring for the environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Warning and Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
How to save energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Switching on and off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Switching off for longer periods of time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
The correct temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Setting the temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Temperature display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Alarm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Activating the alarm system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Switching the alarm off early . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Super freeze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Super freeze. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Freezing and storing food. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Maximum freezing capacity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Freezing fresh food . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Storing frozen food. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Home freezing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Hints on home freezing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Packing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Before placing food in the freezer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Placing food in the freezer section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Freezer calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Marker system for frozen food . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Defrosting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Ice cubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Cooling drinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Freezer tray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Cool pack. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Defrosting the appliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Cleaning and care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Interior and accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Ventilation gaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Door seal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Problem solving guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Noises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Contents
2

After sales service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Electrical connection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Climate range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Ventilation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Before installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Does your old appliance have a different hinging mechanism? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Building-in dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Changing the door hinging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Building in the appliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Fitting a furniture door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Adjusting the door hinges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Contents
3

aAlarm off button and
indicator light
bTemperature display
eFreezer drawers with
freezer calendar
fMarker system for frozen food
cSuper freeze button and indicator
light
dOn/Off and temperature selector dial
Guide to 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.
Improper use of the appliance can,
however, present a risk of both
personal injury and material
damage.
To avoid the risk of accidents and
damage to the appliance, please
read these instructions carefully
before installation and before using
it for the first time. They contain
important notes on the installation,
safety, operation and care of the
appliance.
Keep these instructions in a safe
place and pass them on to any
future user.
Correct application
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 resulting from
incorrect or improper use or operation.
This appliance is not intended for
use by persons (including children)
with reduced physical, sensory or
mental capabilities, or lack of
experience and knowledge, unless they
have been given supervision or
instruction concerning use of the
appliance by a person responsible for
their safety.
Safety with children
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. Older children may
only use the appliance if its operation
has been clearly explained to them and
they are able to use it safely,
recognising the dangers of misuse.
Keep children away from the
appliance at all times and
supervise them whilst you are using it.
Warning and Safety instructions
6

Technical safety
Before setting up the appliance,
check it for any externally visible
damage.
Do not install and use a damaged
appliance.
This appliance contains the coolant
Isobutane (R600a), a natural gas
which is environmentally friendly.
Although it is flammable, it does not
damage the ozone layer and does not
increase the greenhouse effect. The
use of this environmentally friendly
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 the
transportation and setting up of the
appliance that no parts of the cooling
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 m3of
room space is required. The amount of
coolant in the appliance is stated on the
data plate inside the appliance.
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 the risk of damage to the
appliance. Consult a qualified
electrician if in any doubt.
The electrical safety of this
appliance can only be guaranteed
when continuity is complete between it
and an effective earthing system which
complies with current local and national
safety regulations. It is most important
that this basic safety requirement is
present and tested regularly, and where
there is any doubt, the household
wiring system should be inspected by a
qualified electrician.
The manufacturer cannot be held liable
for damage or injury caused by the lack
of or inadequacy of an effective
earthing system (e.g. electric shock).
If the connection cable is faulty it
must only be replaced by a Miele
approved service technician to protect
the user from danger.
Warning and Safety instructions
7

Safe operation of the appliance is
only assured if it has been installed
and connected in accordance with
these operating and installation
instructions.
This appliance 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 current is not supplied to the
appliance until after maintenance or
repair work has been 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 fuse from the fused spur
connection unit has been withdrawn,
or
–the mains fuse has been withdrawn,
or the screw-out fuse 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).
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 guarantee.
Correct use
Never handle frozen food with wet
hands. Your hands may freeze to
the frozen food.
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.
Never 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 operate any electrical
equipment (e.g. an electric ice-
cream maker) inside the appliance.
Danger of sparking and explosion.
Warning and Safety instructions
8

Do not store cans or bottles
containing carbonated drinks or
liquids which could freeze in the freezer
section. 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, resulting in injury or
damage.
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 or 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 a
build-up of gases and pose a danger to
health.
Do not use any oils or grease on
the door seal, as these will cause
the seal 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.
The appliance is designed for use
within certain climate ranges
(ambient temperatures), and should not
be used outside this range. 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,
can 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.
Warning and Safety instructions
9

Disposal of your old freezer
Before disposing of an old
appliance, first make the door latch
or lock unusable.
This way you will prevent children from
accidentally locking themselves in and
endangering their lives.
Disconnect it from the mains, cut
off the cable directly behind the
appliance, 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
10

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 ideal ambient room
temperature is 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 compartment,
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
PerfectFresh zone just above 0 °C
Freezer section -18°C
Wine storage section 10 to 12 °C
Use Only open the doors when
necessary and for as short a time
as possible.
Frequent opening of the doors 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
11

Normal energy
consumption
Increased energy
consumption
Defrosting Defrost the freezer compartment
when a layer of ice 0.5 cm 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
12

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 hours
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.
Cool pack
Place the cool pack in the top drawer or
to save space on the freezer tray. The
cool 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.
Switching on and off
13

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,
^switch off at the wall socket and
remove the plug,
^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.
Switching on and off
14

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-organisims. 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.
Setting the temperature
The temperature is set with the
temperature dial.
^Using a coin turn the temperature
dial in a clockwise direction to the
required setting.
Forcing it beyond its range will
damage it. Turn it only as far as it will
go, then turn it back again.
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
15

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
16

Your appliance has been fitted with a
warning system which ensures that the
temperature in the freezer cannot rise
unnoticed. An alarm will sound and the
alarm indicator light will flash if the
temperature becomes too warm. The
temperature dial determines the range
of temperatures the appliance recog-
nises as being too warm.
The alarm will sound and the alarm
indicator light will flash,
–when the freezer is switched on.
–if the freezer door has been left open
for a while, e.g. in order to load, to
re-arrange or to take food out.
– when freezing large amounts of food
at once.
– if there has been a lengthy
interruption to the power supply.
Activating the alarm system
The alarm system is always active. It
does not have to be switched on
manually.
Switching the alarm off early
Once the set temperature range has
been reached in the freezer, the alarm
switches off and the indicator light goes
out. However, if the noise disturbs you,
you can switch the alarm off before this
if you wish.
^Press the alarm off button.
The alarm will stop. The indicator
light will stay on and will not go out
until the set temperature range has
been reached. The alarm system is
then ready should it be needed
again.
Alarm
17

Super freeze
Switch the Super freeze function on
before putting fresh food into the
freezer.
This helps food to freeze quickly and
retain its nutrients, vitamins, flavours
and appearance.
Super freeze is not necessary:
–when putting in food that is already
frozen.
–when freezing up to 2 kg fresh food
daily.
Switching on Super freeze
The Super freeze function should be
switched on 4 - 6 hours before placing
food in the freezer. 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 off Super freeze
The Super freeze function will switch off
automatically after approx. 50 hours.
The indicator light will go out and the
appliance will run at normal power
again.
To save energy the Super freeze
function can be switched off once a
constant temperature of -18°C or
colder has been reached in the freezer.
^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
18

Maximum freezing capacity
To ensure that fresh food placed in the
freezer section 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".
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.
If food is frozen quickly, the cells have
less time to lose moisture, so they
shrink less. As there is not so much
moisture loss, it is easier for the food to
reabsorb it during the defrosting
process, and very little water collects
around the defrosted food.
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
temperature 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 cool 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.
Freezing and storing food
19

Home freezing
Only freeze fresh food which is in 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, lettuce, 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 and immerse the
vegetables in the fast boiling water
for 2-3 minutes, depending on
variety. Remove, and plunge into ice-
cold water to cool quickly. 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.
–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 food or drinks in the
freezer. This causes already frozen
food to thaw and increases the
energy consumption considerably.
Allow hot food and drinks to cool
down before placing them in the
freezer.
Packing
^Freeze food in portions.
Suitable packing material
- plastic freezer film
- freezer bags
- freezer containers
- aluminium foil
Unsuitable packing material
- wrapping paper
- grease-proof paper
- cellophane
- dustbin liners
- plastic carrier bags
^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.
Freezer bags may also be sealed
using home heat-sealing kits.
Freezing and storing food
20