On Dec 30, 1:38*pm, Brooklyn1 <Gravesend1> wrote:
> On Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:16:20 -0800 (PST), ItsJoanNotJoann
>
> > wrote:
> >On Dec 29, 10:46*pm, "Pico Rico" > wrote:
>
> >> what the heck are you folks doing? *Just turn a fan on and let the room air
> >> circulate into the freezer. *It will defrost likity split, and big chunks of
> >> ice will fall off.
>
> >I gotta agree; this is the best method if you don't have a frost-free
> >freezer.
>
> Actually a fan will likely slow thawing... a fan will increase
> evaporation therefore *lowering* the temperature. *Were I in a hurry
> I'd place a large pot of boiled water into the freezer and close the
> door... repeat as needed.

I defrost our circa 1960 upright freezer once a year. The fastest way
to defrost it is with a fan blowing on it. The fan keeps the air
circulating so that the cold air around the ice is constantly being
replaced by warmer air from the room. Evaporation does play a part,
but it has nothing to do with cooling. In fact, it speeds up the
process. If you just let a freezer defrost on its own, when the ice
begins to melt the cold water will sit on top of the ice and slow down
the melting process. If this water is quickly evaporated or blown
away by a fan it exposes more fresh ice so it can be melted all the
more faster.