Defrost vs. Freeze — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 6, 2024
Defrosting involves warming up to remove ice, while freezing is the process of turning liquid into solid by cooling.
Difference Between Defrost and Freeze
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Defrosting is the process of thawing something that has been frozen, typically food or the buildup of ice in appliances. It involves increasing the temperature to transition from solid ice to liquid or softer form. On the other hand, freezing refers to the method of cooling a substance, usually a liquid, until it solidifies due to low temperatures.
When you defrost something, you are usually aiming to make it safe for consumption or to restore it to a usable condition. This is common in food preparation and storage. Whereas freezing is used primarily as a method of preservation, slowing down the decay and spoilage by halting bacterial growth.
Defrosting can be achieved through various methods including natural thawing at room temperature, using a microwave, or placing items in cold water. Conversely, freezing can be executed by placing items in a freezer, which maintains a temperature below the freezing point of water, typically around 0°F (-18°C).
Defrosting generally requires active monitoring to ensure that items are thawed evenly and safely to prevent bacterial growth or spoilage. In contrast, freezing is more straightforward, as it involves setting the right temperature and ensuring the item is stored properly.
Defrost times can vary significantly depending on the method and the item's size and thickness. On the other hand, freezing times can also vary, influenced by the temperature of the freezer and the size of the items being frozen.
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
To thaw frozen items
To solidify liquids and preserve items
Process
Warming up
Cooling down
Typical Use
Making food safe for consumption
Preserving food by halting spoilage
Method Examples
Room temperature, microwave, cold water
Freezer at 0°F (-18°C)
Monitoring Needed
Yes, to ensure even and safe thawing
Minimal, mostly temperature maintenance
Compare with Definitions
Defrost
To thaw or warm something frozen.
I need to defrost the chicken before I can cook it.
Freeze
To stop something in its current state.
Freeze the video to capture a still image.
Defrost
The function on an appliance to remove ice.
Use the defrost setting on the microwave.
Freeze
To immobilize by cold.
My fingers freeze in this wintry weather.
Defrost
To make something usable by warming.
He defrosted the car windshield with hot air.
Freeze
To cause to become extremely cold.
The sudden blizzard froze the town.
Defrost
To transition from solid to liquid.
Defrost the frozen vegetables before adding them to the stew.
Freeze
To turn a liquid into a solid by cold.
The pond will freeze overnight due to the cold snap.
Defrost
To remove ice buildup.
It's time to defrost the freezer as it's full of ice.
Freeze
To preserve food by cooling it below 0°C.
Freeze the leftovers to eat them later.
Defrost
To remove ice or frost from
Defrosted the windshield.
Freeze
To pass from the liquid to the solid state by loss of heat.
Defrost
To cause to thaw.
Freeze
To acquire a surface or coat of ice from cold
The lake froze over in January. Bridges freeze before the adjacent roads.
Defrost
To become free of ice or frost
A freezer that defrosts automatically.
Freeze
To become clogged or jammed because of the formation of ice
The pipes froze in the basement.
Defrost
To become thawed.
Freeze
To be at that degree of temperature at which ice forms
It may freeze tonight.
Defrost
(transitive) To remove frost from.
I have just defrosted the fridge.
Freeze
To be killed or harmed by cold or frost
They almost froze to death. Mulch keeps garden plants from freezing.
Defrost
(transitive) To thaw something.
Will you defrost the chops for supper tonight?
Freeze
To be or feel uncomfortably cold
Aren't you freezing without a coat?.
Defrost
To recover from something tiresome.
See you tomorrow evening; I'll have defrosted from my trip by then.
Freeze
To become fixed, stuck, or attached by or as if by frost
The lock froze up with rust.
Defrost
The removal of frost.
Freeze
To stop functioning properly, usually temporarily
My computer screen froze when I opened the infected program.
Defrost
To remove the frost or ice from; as, to defrost the car window; to defrost a refrigerator.
Freeze
To become motionless or immobile, as from surprise or attentiveness
I heard a sound and froze in my tracks.
Defrost
To become free of frost or ice; as, it took four hours for the refrigerator to defrost.
Freeze
To become unable to act or speak, as from fear
Froze in front of the audience.
Defrost
To thaw; - used especially of items removed from a freezer, such as frozen foods.
Freeze
To become rigid and inflexible; solidify
An opinion that froze into dogma.
Defrost
Make or become free of frost or ice;
Defrost the car window
Freeze
To convert into ice.
Freeze
To cause ice to form upon.
Freeze
To cause to congeal or stiffen from extreme cold
Winter cold that froze the ground.
Freeze
To preserve (foods, for example) by subjecting to freezing temperatures.
Freeze
To damage, kill, or make inoperative by cold or by the formation of ice.
Freeze
To make very cold; chill.
Freeze
To immobilize, as with fear or shock.
Freeze
To chill with an icy or formal manner
Froze me with one look.
Freeze
To stop the motion or progress of
The negotiations were frozen by the refusal of either side to compromise.
Froze the video in order to discuss the composition of the frame.
Freeze
To fix (prices or wages, for example) at a given or current level.
Freeze
To prohibit further manufacture or use of.
Freeze
To prevent or restrict the exchange, withdrawal, liquidation, or granting of by governmental action
Freeze investment loans during a depression.
Froze foreign assets held by US banks.
Freeze
To anesthetize by chilling.
Freeze
(Sports) To keep possession of (a ball or puck) so as to deny an opponent the opportunity to score.
Freeze
The act of freezing.
Freeze
The state of being frozen.
Freeze
A spell of cold weather; a frost.
Freeze
A restriction that forbids a quantity from rising above a given or current level
A freeze on city jobs.
A proposed freeze on the production of nuclear weapons.
Freeze
Especially of a liquid, to become solid due to low temperature.
The lake froze solid.
Freeze
(transitive) To lower something's temperature to the point that it freezes or becomes hard.
Don't freeze meat twice.
Freeze
(intransitive) To drop to a temperature below zero degrees celsius, where water turns to ice.
It didn't freeze this winter, but last winter was very harsh.
Freeze
To be affected by extreme cold.
It's freezing in here!
Don't go outside wearing just a t-shirt; you'll freeze!
Freeze
(intransitive) (of machines and software) To come to a sudden halt, stop working (functioning).
Since the last update, the program freezes after a few minutes of use.
Freeze
(intransitive) (of people and other animals) To stop (become motionless) or be stopped due to attentiveness, fear, surprise, etc.
Despite all of the rehearsals, I froze as soon as I got on stage.
Freeze
(transitive) To cause someone to become motionless.
Freeze
(figuratively) To lose or cause to lose warmth of feeling; to shut out; to ostracize.
Over time, he froze towards her, and ceased to react to her friendly advances.
Freeze
To cause loss of animation or life in, from lack of heat; to give the sensation of cold to; to chill.
Freeze
(transitive) To prevent the movement or liquidation of a person's financial assets
The court froze the criminal's bank account.
Freeze
Of prices, spending etc., to keep at the same level, without any increase.
Freeze
(Internet) To prevent from showing any visible change.
Some websites, such as YouTube, deliberately freeze the view count, intended to deter attempts to game the system.
Freeze
A period of intensely cold weather.
Freeze
A halt of a regular operation.
Freeze
(computer) The state when either a single computer program, or the whole system ceases to respond to inputs.
Freeze
(curling) A precise draw weight shot where a delivered stone comes to a stand-still against a stationary stone, making it nearly impossible to knock out.
Freeze
A block on pay rises or on the hiring of new employees etc.
A hiring freeze;
A pay freeze
Freeze
A frieze.
Freeze
The act of congealing, or the state of being congealed.
Freeze
To become congealed by cold; to be changed from a liquid to a solid state by the abstraction of heat; to be hardened into ice or a like solid body.
Freeze
To become chilled with cold, or as with cold; to suffer loss of animation or life by lack of heat; as, the blood freezes in the veins.
Freeze
To congeal; to harden into ice; to convert from a fluid to a solid form by cold, or abstraction of heat.
Freeze
To cause loss of animation or life in, from lack of heat; to give the sensation of cold to; to chill.
A faint, cold fear runs through my veins,That almost freezes up the heat of life.
A railroad which had a London connection must not be allowed to freeze out one that had no such connection.
It is sometimes a long time before a player who is frozen out can get into a game again.
Freeze
The withdrawal of heat to change something from a liquid to a solid
Freeze
Weather cold enough to cause freezing
Freeze
An interruption or temporary suspension of progress or movement;
A halt in the arms race
A nuclear freeze
Freeze
Fixing (of prices or wages etc) at a particular level;
A freeze on hiring
Freeze
Change to ice;
The water in the bowl froze
Freeze
Stop moving or become immobilized;
When he saw the police car he froze
Freeze
Be cold;
I could freeze to death in this office when the air conditioning is turned on
Freeze
Cause to freeze;
Freeze the leftover food
Freeze
Stop a process or a habit by imposing a freeze on it;
Suspend the aid to the war-torn country
Freeze
Be very cold, below the freezing point;
It is freezing in Kalamazoo
Freeze
Change from a liquid to a solid when cold;
Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit
Freeze
Prohibit the conversion or use of (assets);
Blocked funds
Freeze the assets of this hostile government
Freeze
Anesthetize by cold
Freeze
Suddenly behave coldly and formally;
She froze when she saw her ex-husband
Common Curiosities
What is defrosting?
Defrosting is the process of making something frozen warm enough to return to its original state, often for consumption.
How long does it take to defrost a refrigerator?
It can take several hours to a full day to defrost a refrigerator, depending on ice buildup.
Can you defrost in a freezer?
No, defrosting involves warming items, which cannot be done in a freezer.
Why do liquids freeze?
Liquids freeze when their temperature drops below their freezing point, causing the molecules to slow down and solidify.
How do you safely defrost meat?
Safely defrost meat by keeping it in the refrigerator or using a microwave defrost setting.
Can defrosting be accelerated?
Yes, defrosting can be accelerated by using a microwave or placing items in cold water.
What does it mean to freeze something?
Freezing refers to cooling a substance until it solidifies, typically used for preservation.
Is it safe to refreeze defrosted food?
Refreezing defrosted food is generally safe if the food was thawed safely in the refrigerator and not left out at room temperature.
What is the ideal temperature for a freezer?
The ideal temperature for a freezer for food storage is 0°F (-18°C).
What are the risks of improper freezing?
Improper freezing can lead to freezer burn, spoilage, and reduced quality of food.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
