Manually defrosting a freezer is a pain depending on how big it is, that is true.
We have a chest freezer that we defrost once a year on the coldest nights of the winter. We put everything in coolers and stick it out in the cars overnight to keep away any potential critters, and give the freezer a good cleaning and let it dry.
We then repack it and rotate stock so we use the oldest stuff first.
We have a chest freezer that we defrost once
a year on the coldest nights of the winter.
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We all had a chest type back in the day, 40/50s.
Had empty them out and defrost/get the ice out.
Then reload making sure you got the oldest on top.