a refrigerator temperature and defrost control according to the present invention includes means for sensing the temperature of a portion of cooling means within the refrigerator , means for determining when a particular frost load has accumulated on the portion of the cooling means , means coupled to the determining means for energizing defrost means for de - icing the portion of the cooling means when the particular frost load has accumulated and means coupled to the sensing means for de - energizing the defrost means when at least a portion of the frost load has been removed and for energizing the cooling means when the temperature of the portion thereof reaches a predetermined temperature during the time the defrost means is de - energized . the temperature and defrost control of the present invention makes multiple use various components thereof to reduce the cost and complexity of the control and to increase the effectiveness thereof .