7 Essential Tips For Making The Most Of Your Chest Freezer For Outbuilding
7 Essential Tips For Making The Most Of Your Chest Freezer For Outbuilding
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Why Buy a Mini Chest Freezer?
If you love stockpiling bargains on sale and need extra freezer space, the chest freezer is the best option. They are typically found in garages and outbuildings, they let you to benefit from discount prices at supermarkets.
This Currys own brand provides a decent amount of storage (around 5 bags) at a reasonable price. It comes with an A+ energy rating which means it's not expensive to run. It also comes with a counterbalanced top which makes it easier to sort through food items.
Capacity
When you have less space than you'll need for a large freezer, but need to stockpile enough summer ice cream or stews cooked in batches, a smaller chest is the perfect choice. These smaller models are usually shorter and wider than their larger counterparts, which means they take up less space. Some of them can even fit in your garage and are a great option for those who are growing their own food or who like to buy fresh produce in bulk and freeze it as soon as they can.
Some models include a basket or two sitting in the top of the unit to keep bags of frozen peas or homemade Ice lollies upright, and to prevent small or often used food items from getting lost in the bottom of the freezer. They can also be useful for storing spare bags of frozen bread or baguettes, as well as any other items you might be able to put in.
The cheapest chest freezers will cost more than PS1000 and are usually placed under the kitchen sink or in an utility room. The Bush BECF99L comes in an elegant black case that has an opening for drainage on the front for defrosting to make it easier. The model is a little smaller than its rivals but still offers a storage capacity of 100 litres. It can accommodate three bags of food items.
Energy efficiency
A chest freezer can make mealtimes more convenient for families that are prone to batch cooking or who want to reduce food waste. It can also reduce trips to the supermarket especially if you're growing your fruit and vegetables. It's great for storing excess produce and also for making microwavable meals. Vincent Finazzo, owner of the Philadelphia-based Riverwards Produce.
Chest freezers are usually very well insulated, meaning they don't lose a lot of their cold air when the door is opened as can happen with fridge and freezer doors. They can also be extremely energy efficient, particularly if you opt for one equipped with low-frost technology. Low frost models need to be defrosted less often and will reduce your electricity bills.
A lot of chest freezers have features that increase their efficiency even further. You should look for a power outage guarantee, which guarantees that the unit will stay frozen in the event of a power interruption or a high temperature alarm or light, which informs you when the temperature of the interior has risen.
It's worth checking a model's annual energy consumption in kWh too, as this will provide you with an idea of the amount it costs to read more run. You'll usually find this figure in the manual or on the freezer's energy label. Some freezers have a basket for storage that can be attached to the top, in order to keep small items from getting lost in the chaos beneath.
Noise
This Bosch integrated model has just enough space to not be a distraction. It is perfect for caravans and motorhomes, as well as kitchenettes and student accommodations. Its capacity is 100 litres, which is more than enough to store three shopping bags. It is also energy efficient and has an A+ rating, so it won't cost a lot to run. It can keep food frozen for up to 30 hours without power, which makes it an ideal backup freezer in case of a power outage.
It's designed in a simple way and doesn't make much noise, which is perfect for those who don't want their freezer to disturb them while they're working in the living or kitchen. It comes with a handy interior light and storage baskets that simplify the process of organizing.
Storage baskets
Look for models with baskets made of wire that are clipped to the rim. These will elevate ordinary items like frozen vegetables and chopped onions away from the potentially chaotic mess below. These are also useful for items such as open packets of oven chips, or frozen vegetables that need to be kept straight.
Another feature that many customers love is a high temperature alarm or light. This will notify you if the freezer is getting too hot due to cleaning, defrosting or the introduction of a large number of frozen food items that aren't frozen. This is a vital safety feature, particularly when you intend to use your mini chest freezer outside or in the garage.
Despite its modest size however, this Bush model is still able to provide plenty of freezer space at a budget-friendly price. It's great for storing summer ice-creams or stews that are cooked in batches during winter. You can also use it as a storage container in your outbuilding or garage. The lid that is counterbalanced makes it easy to open and is unlikely to shut completely as you dig through.
Chest freezers are notorious for the accumulation of food waste and if they're not properly organized it's easy to overlook what's inside them. There are many ways to make your small chest freezer more accessible and less likely to throw away food. A well-organized system, whether it's a simple magnet list or a detailed freezer inventory sheet (there is an example here) will ensure that your mini-chest freezer is operating smoothly.