Why Buy a Mini Chest Freezer?
A chest freezer is great if you like to store frozen bargains and you require additional freezer space. They are often located in garages or outbuildings. They let you benefit from supermarket price reductions.
Currys own brand is a great value for money. It comes with a lot of storage (around five bags) and an A+ rating on energy efficiency, which means it will be cheap to run. It also has a counterbalanced top which makes it easier to sort through food.
Capacity
A small chest freezer is a great option if you don't have the space to fit a larger freezer but still want to store enough ice cream for the summer months or stews in bulk in winter. These smaller designs are often shorter and wider than their full-sized counterparts, which means they take up less room. Some even fit in your garage making them a great option for those who are growing their own food or prefer to buy fresh produce in bulk and then freeze it as soon as possible.
Some models have a basket or two sitting in the top of the unit to keep bags of frozen peas or home-made ice lollies in a straight line and stop small or frequently used foods from getting lost at the bottom of the freezer. They can also be handy for storing bags of baguettes and breads that are frozen and any other items you might be able to fit in.
The cheapest freezers typically cost less than PS150 and will sit under your kitchen sink, or in a utility room, while bigger chest designs could cost more than PS1000. The Bush BECF99L comes in a sleek black case that features an opening for drainage on the front to make defrosting easier. The model is less deep than its competition however it still comes with a capacity of 100 litres. It can hold three bags of groceries.
Energy efficiency
A chest freezer can make mealtimes easier in households that cook in large batches or who want to avoid food wastage. It can also reduce trips to the grocery store particularly if you are growing your fruit and vegetables. It's ideal for storing extra produce and creating microwavable meals. Vincent Finazzo, owner of the Philadelphia-based Riverwards Produce.
Chest freezers are generally website well insulated. This means they don't lose as much cold air when they're opened, as fridge and freezer doors can. They can also be very energy efficient, particularly if you choose one with low-frost technology. Low frost models need less defrosting and will help save the cost of electric bills.
Many chest freezers come with features that can boost their effectiveness even more. Look for a power outage guarantee, which means that the freezer will remain frozen in the event of a power outage or high-temperature alarm or light, which alerts you when the temperature of the interior is rising.
It is worth looking up a model's annual energy consumption in kWh, as this can provide you with an idea of how much it costs to run. You'll find this figure in the instruction manual or on the freezer's energy label. Some freezers come with a storage basket that clips onto the top, to prevent small items from being lost in the chaos underneath.
Noise
This Bosch integrated model is an excellent choice for caravans and motorhomes, kitchenettes and student accommodation since it has enough space to be able to fit without causing a fuss. It has a capacity of 100 litres, which is enough to store three shopping bags. It is also energy efficient and is rated A+, so it won't cost much to operate. It also keeps food frozen, even when there is no power for up to 30 hours which makes it useful as a backup freezer in case there is a power blackout.
It has a simple design and doesn't make lots of noise, which is ideal for those who don't want their freezer to disturb them while they're working in the living room or kitchen. It features a handy internal light and comes with storage baskets to allow for easy organisation.
Baskets for storage
Look for models with wire storage baskets that are clipped to the rim. They can elevate ordinary items like frozen vegetables and chopped onions away from the chaos that could be below. These are also helpful for items like open packets, oven chips or frozen vegetables that require to be stored up to the ceiling.
Another useful feature that a lot of buyers appreciate is a temperature alarm or light. This will notify you when the freezer is too warm after cleaning and defrosting or adding a large amount of food that is not frozen. This is a vital security feature, especially when you plan to use your mini freezer outside or in the garage.
This Bush model provides plenty of freezer space for an affordable price, despite its small size. It's ideal for storing summer ice-creams and stews cooked in batches in winter. It can also be used it as a storage device in your garage or an outbuilding. It's also easy to get into thanks to the lid's counterbalanced design that will not close on your head as you rummage through it.
Chest freezers can be notorious for accumulating lots of food clutter. If not organized properly it's easy to lose track of what they are stocked with. But, there are plenty of ways to make a smaller chest freezer easier to use and less prone to waste. The proper system of organisation that includes a simple magnet list or a more detailed freezer inventory sheet (there is an example here) will ensure that your mini-chest freezer operates smoothly.