Why Buy a Mini Chest Freezer?
A chest freezer is ideal for those who love to stock frozen bargains and require additional freezer space. They are usually located in garages or other outbuildings. They let you benefit from the price reductions offered by supermarkets.
Currys own brand is a great value for money. It comes with plenty of storage (around five bags) and an A+ rating for energy efficiency, which means it's a bargain to run. It also has a counterbalanced top which makes it easier to organize food items.
Capacity
A small chest freezer is the best option if you don't have room to install a taller freezer but still want to store enough ice cream in the summer months or stews in bulk in winter. These smaller designs are often smaller and more spacious than the larger models, which means they take up less space. Some can even fit in your garage, making them a good option for those who cultivate their own food or prefer to purchase fresh produce in bulk and freeze it as soon as they can.
Certain models have a basket or two sitting at the top to hold bags of frozen peas or home-made ice lollies in a straight line and stop small or often used food items from being lost in the bottom of the freezer. They can also be useful for storing bags of baguettes or frozen bread, as well as other items that you may be able to put in.
The most affordable freezers are usually less than PS150 and can be found under the kitchen sink or in a utility room and larger chests can cost more than PS1000. If you're looking for something more modern then the Bush BECF99L comes with a stylish black case, and has an open drain on the front that makes defrosting much easier. This model is a little bit shallower than some of its rivals but offers up 100 litres of storage space and can hold three bags of shopping.
Energy efficiency
A chest freezer can make eating time easier for families that cook in large quantities or who want to avoid food wastage. It can also cut down on trips to the store, especially if you grow your own fruit and vegetables. Vincent Finazzo of Riverwards Produce in Philadelphia says it's great for keeping excess produce and creating microwaveable meals.
Chest freezers are usually very well insulated. This means they do not lose as much cold air when they're opened like freezer and fridge doors can. And they can be incredibly energy efficient, particularly if you choose one equipped with low-frost technology. Low frost models will require less defrosting and will save money on your electric bills.
Many chest freezers come with features that make them more efficient. Look for a power-outage promise which guarantees that the freezer will not be frozen during an outage, as well as an alarm for high temperatures or a warning light to alert you when the temperature inside is rising.
You should also look up the freezer's annual consumption energy in kWh. This will give you a good idea of its cost to run. It is usually found in the information in the manual or on the freezer's energy label. Some freezers have a storage basket which clips to the top, in order to keep small items from getting lost in the mess beneath.
Noise
This Bosch integrated model is just the right amount of space to be inconspicuous. It is ideal for motorhomes and caravans, as well as kitchenettes, and student accommodations. Its capacity is 100 litres, which is more than enough to hold three shopping bags. It is also energy efficient click here and has an A+ rating which means it doesn't cost a lot to run. It can keep food frozen for up to 30 hours without power, making it an ideal backup freezer during a blackout.
It's designed in a simple way and doesn't create much noise, which is perfect for those who don't want their fridge to disturb them when they're working in the living room or kitchen. It has a handy internal light and comes with storage baskets for easy organization.
Storage baskets
Find models with baskets made of wire that can be clipped over the edge. These baskets will lift items that are commonplace, such as chopped and frozen vegetables off the mess below. They're also useful for items that need to be kept upright, like open packets of frozen beans or oven chips.
A high-temperature warning light or alarm is a further feature buyers appreciate. This will alert you when the freezer becomes too warm after cleaning, defrosting or adding lots of non-frozen food. This is a crucial safety feature, particularly when you plan to use your mini chest freezer outside or in the garage.
This Bush model is a good size and offers plenty of freezer space at an affordable price, despite its tiny size. It's ideal for storage of summer ice creams and stews cooked in batches, and it can even be used in a garage or an outbuilding should you wish to. The lid is counterbalanced, making it easy to open and is unlikely to close on you as you dig through.
Chest freezers are notorious for the accumulation of food debris. If they aren't organized properly, it is easy to forget the contents. There are plenty of ways to make a smaller chest freezer easier to navigate and less prone to waste. The proper system of organisation is essential, whether it's a simple magnet list or a more detailed freezer inventory sheet (there is an example here) will ensure that your mini-chest freezer is operating smoothly.