Why Buy a Mini Chest Freezer?
If you are a fan of stockpiling freezable bargains and want extra freezer space, you should consider a chest freezer. Typically found in garages or outbuildings, they let you to take advantage of supermarket price reductions.
Currys own brand is a good value for money. It offers a lot of storage (around five bags) and an A+ rating for energy efficiency, meaning it's a bargain to run. It also comes with a counterbalanced top which makes it easier to separate food items.
Capacity
If you have less space than what you require for a large freezer, but want to stockpile enough summer ice cream or batch-cooked winter stews, a compact chest model is the ideal choice. These smaller models are typically shorter and wider than their full-sized counterparts, which means they require less space. Some of them are able to fit in your garage. This is a great solution for those who grow their own vegetables or buy in bulk and then freeze it for later use.
Some models come with a basket on top that keeps bags of frozen peas or homemade ice lollies, in a straight line. This keeps small or frequently used food from being thrown to the bottom of the refrigerator. These are a great way to store spare bags of frozen baguettes, bread, along with other things.
The cheapest chest freezers may cost more than PS1000 and are placed under the kitchen sink or in a utility room. If you're looking for something that is more fashionable The Bush BECF99L has a chic black case and comes with a front drain port which makes defrosting simpler. This model is shallower than its rivals, but still has a 100-litre storage capacity. It can accommodate three bags of food items.
Energy efficiency
A chest freezer can make meals more convenient for households that cook in large quantities or want to cut down on food wastage. It can also help reduce trips to the store particularly if you are growing your fruit and vegetables. It's a great way to store excess produce and making microwavable meals, according to Vincent Finazzo, owner of Riverwards Produce, a Philadelphia-based company. Riverwards Produce.
Chest freezers are typically well insulated. chest freezers for outbuildings means that they don't lose the same amount of cold air when they're opened, as doors to fridges and freezers can. And they can be incredibly energy efficient, especially if you opt for one equipped with low frost technology. Low frost models need defrosting less frequently, and can save you money on your electricity bill.
Many chest freezers come with features that make them even more efficient. Look for a promise of power outage that indicates the unit will not freeze during an outage, and an alarm for high temperatures or a light to notify you that the interior temperature has risen.
It is worth looking up a model's annual energy consumption in kWh too, as this will provide you with an idea of the amount it costs to run. It is usually found in the figure in the manual or on the freezer's energy label. Some freezers come with an accessory basket that clips onto the top, in order to keep small items from being lost in the mess beneath.
Noise
This Bosch integrated model is just enough space to not be a distraction. It is ideal for caravans and motorhomes as well as kitchenettes and student accommodation. It has a good capacity of about 100 litres, enough for three bags of groceries, and is energy efficient, with an A+ rating so will not cost much to run. It can keep food frozen for up to 30 days without power, making it an ideal backup freezer during a blackout.
It has a simple design and doesn't create much noise, which is great for those who don't want their fridge to disturb them when they're working in the kitchen or living room. It has a convenient internal light and comes with storage baskets to allow for easy organisation.
Baskets for storage
Since chest freezers are an entire space that can be challenging to organise, look for models that come with wire storage baskets that can attach to the rim. They can elevate everyday items like frozen veg and chopped onions out of the potentially chaotic mess below. They are also helpful for items like open packets, oven chips or frozen vegetables that require to be kept in a straight position.
Another handy feature that many customers appreciate is a high-temperature alarm or light. This will notify you when the freezer gets too hot after cleaning and defrosting or adding a large amount of non-frozen food items. This is a crucial safety feature, especially if you plan to use your mini chest freezer in your garage or in outbuildings.
Despite its relatively small size however, this Bush model is still able to provide plenty of freezer space at a budget-friendly cost. It's ideal for storing summer ice creams and stews that are cooked in batches and can be used in an outbuilding or garage when you'd like to. The lid that is counterbalanced makes it easy to open and won't be likely to close when you work through.
Chest freezers are notorious for accumulating food clutter and if not organised properly it's easy for people to forget what's inside them. There are many ways to make your chest freezer more accessible and less likely to waste food. The best system of organization, whether it's a simple magnet list or an elaborate freezer inventory sheet (there is an example here) will ensure that your mini-chest freezer is operating smoothly.