Miele K 642 i-1 User manual

Operating and installation instructions
Refrigerator
K 621 i-1, K 622 i-1
K 641 i-1, K 642 i-1
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. 05 739 100

Description of the appliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Caring for the environment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Warning and Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
How to save energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Switching on and off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Switching off for longer periods of time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
The correct temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
. . . in the refrigerator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
. . . in the freezer compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Temperature selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Using the refrigerator efficiently. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Different storage zones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Coldest area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Warmest area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Food which should not be stored in a refrigerator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Storing food correctly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Fruit and vegetables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Adjusting the interior fittings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Moving the shelves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Split shelf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Adjusting the door shelves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Moving the bottle divider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Freezing and storing food. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Storing frozen food. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Home freezing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Hints on home freezing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Packing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Placing food in the freezer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Defrosting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Ice cubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Cooling drinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Defrosting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Refrigerator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Freezer compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Contents

Cleaning and care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Cleaning the interior and accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Ventilation gaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Door seal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Problem solving guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Noises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Service Department. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Electrical connection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Electrical connection U.K. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Climate range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Ventilation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Before installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Building in dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Changing the door hinging. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Appliance door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Freezer compartment door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Building in the appliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Building into a peninsular run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Contents

aFreezer compartment *
bAdjustable shelves
cCondensate channel and
drain hole
dFruit and vegetable containers
eButter and cheese compartment
fEgg trays
gAdjustable door shelves
hTemperature selector and
interior light with
contact switch
iBottle shelf
jDivider
* depending on model
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.
Improper use can, however, present
a risk of both personal injury and
material damage.
To avoid the risk of accidents and
damage to the appliance, read the
operating instructions carefully
before installation and before using
for the first time. They contain
important notes on the 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 for the cool
storage of food and drinks as well as
for storing deep frozen food, freezing
fresh food and for preparing 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 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 installation 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 m3of
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 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 local and national safety
regulations. It is most important that this
basic safety requirement is present and
regularly. 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 is not designed for
maritime use or for use in mobile
installations such as caravans, aircraft
etc. However it may be suitable for
such usage subject to a risk
assessment of the installation being
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 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 socket
and the plug has been withdrawn.
– the mains fuse has been withdrawn,
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 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.
Warning and Safety instructions
7

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. Thermostats
switching on may produce sparks
which could present a fire hazard.
Flammable compounds could explode.
Do not use any electrical
equipment in this appliance, e.g.
ice cream makers. Danger of sparking
and explosion!
If storing alcohol with a high
percentage proof, make sure it is
tightly closed and stored upright.
Danger of explosion.
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.
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 seals, as these will 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), 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,
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 themselves 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 warm water and
a little washing up liquid, and then
dry with 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
^Turn the temperature selector in a
clockwise direction away from "0".
The appliance starts cooling, and the
interior light will come on when the door
is opened.
The higher the setting, the lower the
temperature in the appliance.
Switching off
^Turn the temperature selector in an
anti-clockwise direction from "1" back
to the "0" position.
The cooling system and the interior light
are now switched off.
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
withdraw the plug,
^defrost the freezer compartment,
^clean the appliance out and
^leave the doors ajar to air the
appliance.
If, during a long absence, the
appliance is switched off but not
cleaned out and the doors are left
shut, there is a danger of mould and
odours building up inside the
appliance.
Switching on and off
12

It is very important to set the correct
temperature for storing food in the
appliance. 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.
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,
– the warmer the food is which is put
into it,
– 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.
. . . in the refrigerator
We recommend a temperature of
5 °C in the middle of the appliance.
. . . in the freezer compartment
(depending on model)
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. Partially
defrosted or defrosted food must not be
re-frozen once it has been cooked as
the high temperatures achieved when
cooking destroy most organisms.
Temperature selection
Use the temperature selector to select
the temperature.
^Turn the temperature selector to a
setting between 1 and 7.
The higher the setting the lower the
temperature in the appliance. A middle
range setting is usually sufficient.
However, if frozen food is to be stored
in the freezer compartment then a
setting between 4 and 7 is
recommended to ensure that the
required temperature in the freezer
compartment is maintained.
It is advisable to select a higher setting
(between 4 and 7) if the door is opened
frequently, large quantities of food are
stored in the refrigerator or there is a
high ambient temperature.
The correct temperature
13

Different storage zones
Due to the natural circulation of the air
in the appliance, there are different
temperature zones in the refrigerator.
Cold, heavy air sinks to the lowest
section of the appliance. Make use of
the different zones when placing food
in the appliance.
Coldest area
The coldest area in a refrigerator is
directly above the vegetable
containers.
Use this for all delicate and highly
perishable food, e.g.
– fish, meat, poultry,
– sausage products, ready meals,
– dishes or baked goods containing
eggs or cream,
– fresh dough, cake mixtures, pizza or
quiche dough,
–soft cheese and other dairy
products,
–pre-packed vegetables and other
fresh food with a label stating it
should be kept at a temperature of
approx. 4 °C.
Warmest area
The warmest area is in the top section
of the door. Use this for storing butter
and cheese.
Do not store explosive materials in
the appliance or any products
containing propellants (e.g. spray
cans). Danger of explosion.
If storing alcohol with a high
percentage proof, make sure it is
tightly closed, and store upright.
Do not store cooking oil in the
refrigerator door.
Traces of oil can cause stress
cracks to occur in the plastic
components in the door.
Food must not touch the back wall of
the appliance, as it may freeze to the
back wall.
Food which should not be
stored in a refrigerator
Not all food is suitable for storing in the
refrigerator. These include:
–Fruit and vegetables which are
sensitive to cold, such as bananas,
avocado pears, papaya, passion
fruit, aubergines, peppers, tomatoes
and cucumbers
–Fruit which is not yet ripe
–Potatoes
–Some hard cheeses, e.g. Parmesan
Using the refrigerator efficiently
14

Storing food correctly
Store food covered or packaged. This
will prevent food smells or tastes from
affecting other foods, and prevent food
from drying out and also any
cross-contamination of bacteria. The
growth of bacteria, such as salmonella,
can be avoided by setting the correct
temperature and maintaining good
standards of hygiene.
Fruit and vegetables
Fruit and vegetables can be stored
loose in the vegetable containers.
However, you should bear in mind that
some types of vegetables give off a
natural gas which speeds up the rate at
which food perishes. Some fruit and
vegetables react strongly to this gas
and should not be stored together.
Examples of fruit which produce a
large amount of this natural gas are:
Apples, apricots, pears, nectarines,
peaches, plums, avocado pears and
figs.
Examples of fruit and vegetables
which react strongly to the natural
gases given off by other types of fruit
and vegetables are:
Kiwis, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels
sprouts, mangos, honeydew melons,
apples, apricots, cucumbers, tomatoes,
pears, nectarines and peaches.
Using the refrigerator efficiently
15

Moving the shelves
The shelves can be adjusted according
to the height of the food.
^Pull the shelf forward as far as it will
go; then lift it upwards to remove it.
^With the rear barrier facing upwards,
place the shelf at the required
position.
The rear barrier must face upwards to
prevent food from touching the back
of the appliance and freezing to it.
Split shelf
In order to accommodate tall items in
the appliance, one of the shelves is
divided. The front section can be
pushed under the rear section.
^Pull the front half of the glass shelf
forwards slightly and then push it
carefully under the rear half.
Adjusting the door shelves
^Push the door shelf upwards, then
remove it by pulling it forwards.
^Replace the door shelf at the
required position. Ensure that it is
securely pushed back into position.
Moving the bottle divider
The bottle divider can be moved to the
left or right to ensure that bottles are
held securely in position when the door
is opened and shut.
Adjusting the interior fittings
16

Using the freezer compartment
Use the freezer compartment to:
–store frozen food,
–make ice cubes,
–freeze small quantities of fresh 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
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 compartment 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
17

–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 compartment. 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
compartment.
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
Placing food in the freezer
^Place the food flat on the bottom of
the freezer compartment so that it
freezes through to the core as quickly
as possible.
^Make sure that the packaging and
containers are dry to prevent them
sticking together when frozen.
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.
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.
Freezing and storing food
18

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.
Ice cubes
(with or without release button
depending on model)
^Press down the release button on the
ice cube tray and fill the tray with wa-
ter. Any excess will flow out through
the outlet.
^Now pull the release button up to
seal the ice cube tray. Place the tray
on the bottom of the freezer
compartment.
^Once frozen use a blunt instrument,
for example a spoon handle, to
remove the ice tray from the freezer.
^Ice cubes can be removed easily
from the tray by holding it under cold
running water for a short while.
Cooling drinks
When cooling drinks quickly, make sure
bottles are not left in the freezer
compartment for more than one hour,
as they could burst.
Freezing and storing food
19

Refrigerator
Condensate and frost can build up on
the back wall of the refrigerator section
whilst it is in use. These are
automatically removed and defrosted
by the appliance.
The condensate is drained away via a
channel and drain hole into an
evaporation system at the back of the
appliance.
Ensure that the condensate channel
and drain hole are never blocked so
that the condensate can flow away
without hindrance.
Freezer compartment
(depending on model)
The freezer compartment does not
defrost automatically because frozen
food must not be allowed to defrost.
In normal use ice and frost will form on
the evaporator plate. If allowed to
accumulate, this will impair the
efficiency of the freezer and increase
the consumption of electricity.
Do not scrape ice and frost off the
evaporator plate as this can damage
the evaporator plate and the freezer
compartment making it unusable.
The freezer compartment should be
defrosted from time to time. It must be
defrosted if a layer of ice approx. 5 mm
thick has accumulated. It is best to
defrost when only very little food or no
food at all is left in the freezer.
Before defrosting
^Remove the frozen food from the
freezer compartment and place it in
another freezer or cool box or wrap it
in several layers of newspaper or
cloths and place it in a cool place
until the freezer compartment is
ready for use again.
Defrosting
20