Why Buy a Mini Chest Freezer?
A chest freezer is a great option if you like to store frozen items and need additional freezer space. Often found in garages and outbuildings, they enable you to take advantage of discounts at the supermarket.
Currys own brand is a great value for the money. chest freezers small uk Frydge comes with a lot of storage (around five bags) and an A+ rating on energy efficiency, so it's a bargain to run. It also comes with a counterbalanced top which makes it easier to sort through food items.
Capacity
If you have less space than you'll need for an expansive freezer but need to stockpile enough summer ice cream or stews made in batches, a compact chest model is the ideal option. These smaller designs are often smaller and more spacious than their larger counterparts, which means they take up significantly less space. Some of them are able to fit in your garage. This is an ideal option for people who grow their own vegetables or buy in large quantities and then freeze it.
Some models have an additional basket that helps keep bags of frozen peas or homemade ice lollies, standing upright. This prevents small or often used food items from being thrown into the bottom of the fridge. They can also be handy to store bags of baguettes or frozen bread as well as any other items you might be able to fit in.
The most affordable freezers are usually under PS150 and can be found under your kitchen sink or in a utility space, while bigger chest designs can be more than PS1000. The Bush BECF99L comes with a stylish black case with a front drain port to make defrosting a breeze. This model is shallower than many of its competitors however it still has a 100-litre storage capacity. It can accommodate three bags of groceries.
Energy efficiency
A chest freezer can make mealtimes more convenient for families that have a tendency to do a lot of batches of cooking or want to minimize food waste. It can also reduce trips to the grocery store particularly if you're growing your own fruits and veggies. Vincent Finazzo of Riverwards Produce in Philadelphia says it's great for storing excess produce and for cooking microwave-friendly meals.
Chest freezers tend to be extremely well-insulated, which means they don't lose much of their cold air when the door is opened, as is the case with fridge and freezer doors. They can also be extremely energy efficient, especially when you select one with low-frost technology. Low frost models require defrosting less frequently, and can save you money on electric bills.
Many chest freezers come with features that can boost their efficiency even further. Look for a power-outage guarantee that guarantees the freezer will remain frozen during an outage, and an alarm that warns you of rising temperatures or light to warn you when the temperature inside has increased.
It's worth checking a model's annual energy consumption in kWh, also, since this will provide you with an idea of how much it will cost to run. It is usually found in the information in the manual or on the freezer's energy label. Some freezers come with a basket for storage which clips to the top of the freezer, to stop small items from getting lost in the chaos underneath.
Noise
This Bosch integrated model is just enough space to be inconspicuous. It is ideal for caravans and motorhomes, as well as kitchenettes and student accommodation. Its capacity is 100 litres which is sufficient to store three shopping bags. It is also energy efficient and has an A+ rating which means it doesn't cost too much to operate. It can also keep food frozen even without power for up to 30 hours making it useful as an emergency freezer in the event of a blackout.
It's a minimalist design and doesn't create much noise, which is perfect for those who do not want their freezer to disturb their lives while working in the kitchen or living room. It features a handy internal light and comes with storage baskets to allow for easy organisation.
Storage baskets
Since chest freezers are one large space that is difficult to organise, look for models with wire storage baskets that be clipped over the rim. These will lift everyday items like frozen veg and chopped onions away from the potential chaos below. They are also useful for items such as open packets of oven chips, or frozen vegetables that require to be kept upright.
Another feature that many customers love is a high temperature alarm or light. It will notify you if the freezer has become too warm due to cleaning, defrosting, or introducing lots of non-frozen food items. This is a vital security feature, especially when you intend to use your mini freezer outside or in the garage.
Despite its small size and small footprint, this Bush model still provides plenty of extra freezer space at a budget-friendly cost. It's ideal for storage of summer ice creams, or batch-cooked winter stews and can be used in a garage or outbuilding when you'd like to. It's also easy to get into thanks to the counterbalanced lid that won't shut on your head as you rummage through it.
Chest freezers can be notorious for accumulating lots of food clutter. If not organized properly, it is easy to lose track of what they are stocked with. There are many ways to make your chest freezer more accessible and less likely to throw away food. If it's a list on a magnetic board or an extensive inventory sheet for the freezer (there's an example here) The right organizing system will ensure that your mini-chest freezer is running smoothly.