Manual defrosting requires you to turn off your refrigerator physically, remove all the food and shelving, and allow the ice to melt on its own. Automatic defrosting is a feature available on some refrigerators that uses a heating element and a timer to melt the ice. Physically turn off your refrigerator, and remove all. This can be more convenient and less time-consuming, as you don’t need to defrost the refrigerator manually.