Miele KT 3414 S Specification sheet

Operating and installation instructions
Fridge - Freezer combination
KT 3414 S
To avoid the risk of accidents or
damage to the appliance, it is essential to
read these operating and installation
instructions before it is installed or used for the first time.
G
M.-Nr. 06 133 390

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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Temperature selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Winter setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Using the refrigerator section efficiently . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Different storage zones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Coldest zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Warmest zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Food which should not be stored in a refrigerator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Storing food correctly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Fruit and vegetables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Adjusting the interior fittings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Moving the shelves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Split shelf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Adjusting the door shelves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Moving the bottle divider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Free ing and storing food. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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
Defrosting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Ice cubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Cooling drinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Defrosting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Refrigerator section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Freezer section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Contents

Cleaning and care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Cleaning the outer casing, the interior and accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Ventilation gaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Door seals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Metal grille at the back of the appliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Problem solving guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Noises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
After Sales Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Electrical connection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Electrical connection U.K. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Climate range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Ventilation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Fitting the handles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Align the appliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Changing the door hinging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Installing the appliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Contents

aTemperature selector
bWinter setting switch and indicator
light
aShelf (freezer section)
bButter and cheese compartment
cAdjustable shelves (refrigerator
section)
dEgg trays
eInterior light
fCondensate channel and
drain hole
gFruit and vegetable containers
hAdjustable door shelves
iDivider
jVentilation gap
cLight contact switch
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.
Rather than just throwing these
materials away, please ensure they are
offered for recycling.
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!
Disposal of your old appliance
Please ensure that your old appliance
is disposed of at an authorised disposal
centre only. Contact your local authority
for advice if required.
Make sure that the pipework is not
damaged whilst moving an old
appliance. This is to ensure that the
refrigerant and oil in the compressor
cannot leak into the environment. It is
important that they are disposed of in a
safe manner by authorised persons
only.
Ensure that the appliance presents no
danger to children while being stored
for disposal.
See the appropriate section in the
Warning and safety instructions.
Caring for the environment
5

This appliance complies with all
relevant legal safety requirements.
Inappropriate use can however lead
to personal injury and damage to
property.
Read the operating instructions
carefully before starting to use this
appliance. They contain important
notes on installation, safety,
operation and care of the appliance.
This way you will avoid the risk of
accidents and damage to 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 drink 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 improper use of
the appliance.
Technical safety
This appliance contains the coolant
Isobutane (R600a), a natural gas
which is very environment friendly.
Although it is flammable, it does not
damage the ozone layer and does not
increase the green house effect. The
use of this environment 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
transportation and setting up of the
appliance that no parts of the coolant
system are damaged. Leaking coolant
can damage the eyes.
In the event of any damage:
- avoid open fires
and anything which creates a spark,
- disconnect from the mains,
- air the room in which the appliance is
located for several minutes and
- contact the Service Department
for advice.
The more refrigerant there is in an
appliance, the larger the room it
should be installed in. In the event of a
leakage, if the appliance is in a small
room, there is the danger of
combustible gases building up.
For every 8 g of coolant at least 1 m3
room space is required. The amount of
coolant in the appliance is stated on the
data plate inside the appliance.
Warning and Safety instructions
6

Before connecting the appliance to
the mains supply make sure that
the rating on the data plate
corresponds to the voltage and
frequency of the household supply. This
data must correspond in order to avoid
risk of damage to the appliance.
Consult a qualified electrician if in
doubt.
The electrical safety of this
appliance can only be guaranteed
when continuity is complete between
the appliance and an effective earthing
system, which complies with local and
national safety regulations. It is most
important that this basic safety
requirement is 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 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 that current is not supplied
to the appliance while maintenance
or repair work is being carried out.
The appliance is only completely
isolated from the electricity supply
when:
–it has been switched off at the wall
socket and the plug has been
withdrawn. Do not pull on the cable,
only on the plug.
– 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).
Operation
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 its
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). Switching on thermostats may
produce sparks which could present a
fire hazard.
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, otherwise
they could burst. Danger of injury and
damage to the appliance.
Observe the "use by" dates given
on food to avoid the risk of food
poisoning.
Storage times will depend on several
factors including the freshness and
quality of the food as well as the
temperature at which it is stored. Follow
the instructions given on food
manufacturer’s packaging on storage
conditions required as well as the "use
by" date.
Do not use sharp edged objects to
–remove frost and ice,
–separate frozen foods and remove
ice trays.
They will damage the evaporator
causing irreversible damage to the
appliance.
Never place electric heaters or
candles in the appliance to defrost
it. These can damage the plastic parts.
Do not use defrosting sprays, or
de-icers as they could contain
substances which could damage the
plastic parts and which may cause the
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 store cooking oil in the
appliance door. Traces of oil can
cause stress cracks to occur in the
plastic components in the door.
Do not block the ventilation gaps in
the appliance 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 a
use within certain climate ranges
(ambient temperatures). It must not be
used in ranges for which it is not
designed. The climate range for your
appliance is stated on the data plate
inside the appliance.
Installing it in a room with too low an
ambient temperature 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 surrounding in a
clean condition at all times. Any
damage which may caused by
cockroaches or 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.
Before disposing of an old
appliance, unplug it and render the
plug useless. Cut off the cable directly
behind the appliance and at the plug to
prevent misuse.
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 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
compartment temperature, 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 winter
setting is switched off when the
ambient temperature is warmer
than 16 °C.
Refrigerator section 4 to 5 °C
StayFresh zone approx. 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
has 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 sections to
allow air to circulate.
How to save energy
10

Defrosting Defrost the freezer section when a
centimetre thick layer of ice 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
1/2 and 1 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
We recommend a temperature of 5 °C
in middle of the refrigerator section.
If you wish to check the temperature in
the refrigerator,
^place a thermometer in a glass of wa-
ter 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.
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 free er
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 correct temperature
13

Temperature selection
The temperatures for both the
refrigerator section and for the freezer
section are set using the temperature
selector in the refrigerator section.
^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 free er 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 advisable to select a higher setting
(between 4 and 7) if the door is opened
frequently, large quantities of food are
stored in a refrigerator 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 compartment 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
compartment 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 ones
Natural air circulation gives rise to
different temperature zones inside the
refrigerator section. Cold, heavy air
sinks to the lowest section of the
appliance. Make use of the different
zones when placing food in the
appliance.
Coldest one
The coldest zone in the refrigerator
section 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 one
The warmest zone is in the top section
of the refrigerator 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. Otherwise it may
freeze to the back wall.
Food which should not be
stored in a refrigerator
Not all food is suitable for refrigeration.
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
Using the refrigerator section 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.
Using the refrigerator section 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 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
18

Maximum free ing 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 fro en 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 section 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 free ing
Only freeze fresh food which is in a
good condition.
Hints on home free ing
–The following types of food are
suitable for free ing:
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 free ing:
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.
Free ing 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 free er
^Turn the temperature selector to a
middle or high setting for approx. 24
hours before placing fresh food in the
freezer.
^Press the switch for the winter
setting. The indicator light will come
on. The temperature in the freezer
section will drop so that the frozen
food already in the freezer will retain
its cold reserve.
Placing food in the free er
^Place the food flat in the bottom of
the freezer section 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.
^Fresh food will be frozen through
approx. 24 hours after being placed
in the freezer. Turn the temperature
selector to the required setting and if
the room temperature is above 16 °C,
switch the winter setting off.
Free ing and storing food
20