Why Buy a Mini Chest Freezer?

A chest freezer is a great option for those who love to stock frozen bargains and you require extra freezer space. They are often found in garages or outbuildings. They let you benefit from the price reductions offered by supermarkets.

This Currys own brand offers a decent amount of storage (around five bags) for the price. It is rated with an A+ energy rating, meaning it's cheap to run. It also has a counterbalanced top which makes it easier to separate food items.

Capacity

A compact chest freezer is the ideal choice when you don't have enough space for a larger freezer however, you want to keep enough ice cream in summer or stews in bulk during winter. These smaller models are usually smaller and wider than full-sized models, so they are smaller and take up less space. Some of them can be tucked away in your garage. This is a great option for people who grow their own produce or buy in bulk and then freeze it for later use.

Certain models have two or more baskets on top to keep bags of frozen peas and homemade ice lollies in a straight line and stop small or often used food items from getting lost at the bottom of the freezer. These can be used to store bags of frozen baguettes or bread, along with other items.

The cheapest chest freezers could cost more than PS1000 and are typically placed under the kitchen sink or in the utility room. The Bush BECF99L comes with an elegant black case that has an open drain on the front to make defrosting simpler. This model is a less deep than its rivals but offers up to 100 litres of storage and can accommodate up to three bags of shopping.

Energy efficiency

A chest freezer can simplify mealtimes for families that do a lot of batch cooking or wish to minimize food waste. It can also make it easier to avoid trips to the grocery store particularly if you're growing your own fruit and vegetables. It's great for storing excess produce and for creating microwavable meals, according to Vincent Finazzo, owner of the Philadelphia-based Riverwards Produce.

Chest freezers are typically very well insulated, meaning they don't lose any of their cold air when the door is opened, which happens with fridge and freezer doors. They are also energy efficient, particularly when you choose a model with low-frost technology. Low frost models will require less defrosting and will help save electricity costs.

Many chest freezers come with features that improve their efficiency even more. Look for a power-outage guarantee that guarantees the freezer will not be frozen during an outage, as well as a high temperature alarm or light to warn you when the temperature inside is rising.

It's worth checking a model's annual energy consumption in kWh as this can give you an idea of how much it costs to run. You'll usually find this figure in the instruction manual or on the freezer's energy label. Some freezers have a basket for storage that clips onto the top, to prevent small items from becoming lost in the chaos below.

Noise

This Bosch integrated model is a fantastic choice for caravans and motorhomes as well as kitchenettes and student accommodations as it has just enough space to fit in unobtrusively. It has a good capacity of around 100 litres, which is enough for three bags of groceries, and it's energy efficient with an A+ rating. This means it will not cost much to run. It can keep food frozen for up to 30 days without power, which makes it a handy backup freezer during a blackout.

It's a minimalist design and doesn't produce a lot of noise, which is ideal for those who don't want their fridge to disturb their lives while working in the living or kitchen. It has a handy internal light and comes with storage baskets for easy organisation.

Baskets for storage

Look for models with wire storage baskets which clip onto the rim. These baskets will lift everyday items such as chopped and frozen vegetables off the chaotic mess below. They are also helpful for items like open packets or oven chips, or frozen vegetables that need to be kept in a straight position.

An alarm that is activated at high temperatures is a further feature buyers appreciate. This will notify you if the freezer has become too hot due to cleaning, defrosting, or introducing a lot of non-frozen foods. This is an important safety feature, particularly in the event that you plan to use your mini freezer outside or in the garage.

This Bush model has plenty of freezer space for an affordable price, even with its small size. It's ideal to store summer ice creams or stews cooked in batches in winter. It can also be used it as a storage space in your outbuilding or garage. The lid with a counterbalanced design makes here it easy to open, and it's unlikely to close on you as you work through.

Chest freezers are notorious for accumulating food clutter and if they're not organized properly, it's easy to overlook what's in them. However, there are plenty of ways to make your small chest freezer easier to access and less prone to waste. The right organisation system whether it's a basic magnet list or a detailed freezer inventory sheet (there is an example here) is essential to ensure that your mini-chest freezer operates smoothly.