Miele KD 683 i-3 Specification sheet

Operating and installation instructions
Fridge-freezer combination
KD 683 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. 06 883 930

Guide to 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 section. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
. . . in the freezer section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Setting the temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Winter setting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Using the refrigerator efficiently. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Different storage zones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Food which should not be stored in a refrigerator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Storing food correctly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Unpacked meats and vegetables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Protein rich foods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Meat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Adjusting the interior fittings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Moving the shelves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Split shelf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Adjusting the door shelves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Moving the bottle divider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Freezing and storing food. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Maximum freezing capacity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Storing frozen food. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Home freezing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Hints on home freezing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Packing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Before placing food in the freezer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Placing food in the freezer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Freezer calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Marker system for frozen food . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Defrosting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Ice cubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Cooling drinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Freezer tray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Contents

Cool pack. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Defrosting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Refrigerator section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Freezer section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Cleaning and care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Cleaning the interior and accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Ventilation gaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Door seals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Problem solving guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Noises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
After sales service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Electrical connection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Electrical connection U.K. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Climate range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Ventilation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Before installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Building-in dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Changing the door hinging. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Installing the appliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Fitting the furniture door. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Adjusting the door hinges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Contents

aTemperature selector
bWinter setting switch
with indicator light
aButter and cheese compartment
bInterior lighting
cEgg tray
dBottle rack *
eShelf
fCondensate channel and
drain hole
gFruit and vegetable containers
hBottle divider *
iDoor shelves
jFreezer tray
kFreezer drawers with
freezer calendar
lMarker system for frozen food
* depending on model
cLight contact switch
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 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
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 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 environmentally friendly.
Although it is flammable, it does not
damage the ozone layer and does not
increase the greenhouse 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 the
transportation and setting up of the
appliance that no parts of the cooling
system are damaged. Leaking coolant
can be harmful to 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
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, and 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 in accordance with national
and local safety regulations.
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 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 mains fuse is 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.
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 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
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. This could result 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 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 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 gap 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.
Do not 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 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 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 or 18 °C.
Refrigerator section 4 to 5 °C
StayFresh 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
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
11/2 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 will begin to cool. The
interior light in the refrigerator section
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 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 at the mains,
^withdraw the plug (pull on the plug
and not the cable),
^defrost the freezer section,
^clean the appliance, 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 being
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 section
We recommend a temperature of 4 °C
in middle of the refrigerator section.
If you wish to check the temperature in
the refrigerator section,
^place a thermometer in a glass of
water and then place the glass in the
middle of the refrigerator section.
After about 24 hours, the thermometer
will show the approximate temperature
in the refrigerator section.
Please note the following:
–bathwater and other household
thermometers are not very accurate.
It is best to use an electronic
thermometer.
–Do not measure the temperature of
the air in the appliance. The result
will not reflect the temperature in the
food.
–Try to open the door as little as
possible during the measuring
period, as warm room air will enter
the refrigerator every time the door is
opened.
. . . in the freezer section
To freeze fresh food and to store frozen
food for a long time, a temperature
colder than -18 °C is required. At this
temperature the growth of
micro-organisms is generally halted. As
soon as the temperature rises 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 correct temperature
13

Setting the temperature
The temperatures for both the
refrigerator section and for the freezer
section are set using the temperature
selector in the refrigerator section.
^Turn it 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 section then a setting of
between 4 and 7 is recommended to
ensure that the required temperature in
the freezer section is maintained.
It is also advisable to set the
temperature within this range if the door
is opened frequently, large quantities of
food are stored in the refrigerator
section or there is a high ambient
temperature.
The correct temperature
14

With very low ambient temperatures
at or below 16 °C the freezer
compartment may not be able to
maintain its temperature. The low room
temperature may prevent the appliance
from running often enough, resulting in
frozen food beginning to thaw. The
winter setting is designed to prevent
this happening.
To activate the winter setting
^Press the switch for the winter
setting. The indicator light will come
on. The appliance will come on more
often, lowering the temperature in the
freezer section to the required level.
To deactivate the winter setting
As soon as the ambient temperature
rises above 16 °C the winter setting
should be switched off. The freezer
section temperature will be sufficiently
controlled by the temperature dial.
^Press the switch for the winter
setting. The indicator light will go out
and the appliance will continue to
operate at normal power.
Winter setting
15

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.
Warmest area
The warmest area is in the top section
of the door. Use this for storing butter
and cheese.
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.
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.
If storing bottles of oil or food
containing high levels of fat or oil in
the appliance, take care not to let
the fat or oil come into contact with
plastic components. These can
cause stress cracks to occur in the
plastic components.
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/eggplant,
peppers/capsicum, tomatoes and
cucumbers
–Fruit which is not yet ripe
–Potatoes
–Some hard cheeses, e.g. Parmesan
Using the refrigerator efficiently
16

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.
Unpacked meats and vegetables
Different types of unpacked meats and
vegetables must be kept separate. To
avoid any microbiological
cross-contamination, these foods may
only be stored together if they are
wrapped.
Protein rich foods
Please note that foods rich in protein
deteriorate faster than others.
Shell fish, for example, deteriorates
faster than fish, and fish deteriorates
faster than meat.
Meat
Meat should be stored loosely covered
in suitable containers or packaging.
Allowing the surface of the meat to dry
slightly helps to prevent the growth of
bacteria. To prevent the risk of bacterial
cross-contamination meat should not
be allowed to come into contact with
other foods.
Using the refrigerator efficiently
17

Moving the shelves
The shelves can be adjusted according
to the height of the food.
^Pull the shelves forward as far as
they will go then lift them upwards to
remove them.
^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 has a
small section which can be raised
upwards.
Adjusting the door shelves
^Push the door shelf upwards then
remove it by pulling it upwards.
^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
18

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
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 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
plunge quickly into ice 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
19

–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 winter
setting for some time before placing
the food in the freezer (see "Winter
setting").
Placing food in the freezer
Food to be frozen can be placed
anywhere in the freezer. Large
quantities can be placed directly on the
evaporator plates to freeze the food
quickly. To do this first take out one or
more freezer drawers.
Each drawer and evaporator plate
can be loaded with a maximum of
25 kg.
^Place the food flat in the bottom of
the drawers or on the evaporator
plates 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.
Freezing and storing food
20