Why Buy a Mini Chest Freezer?

A chest freezer is ideal for those who love to stock up frozen bargains and need additional freezer space. Often found in garages and outbuildings, they permit you to benefit from supermarket price reductions.

Currys' own brand is a great value for the money. It comes with a lot of storage (around five bags) and an A+ rating for energy efficiency, so it's a bargain to run. It also has a lid with a counterbalanced design, making it easier to sift through food.

Capacity

If you have less space than you 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 designs are often shorter and wider than their full-sized counterparts which means they take up less space. Some of them are able to fit in your garage. This is a great solution for people who grow their own vegetables or buy in bulk and then freeze it.

Some models include a basket or two sitting on top to keep bags of frozen peas, or homemade ice lollies in a straight line and stop smaller or frequently used foods from being lost at the bottom of the freezer. They can also be handy for storing bags of frozen bread or baguettes as well as other items that you may be able to squeeze in.

The cheapest freezers typically cost under PS150 and will sit under your kitchen sink, or in a utility space, while bigger chest Freezer for outbuilding designs can cost more than PS1000. If you're looking for something that is more fashionable, the Bush BECF99L has a smart black case and an opening for the drain on the front that makes defrosting much easier. The model is a bit shallower than some of its rivals but offers up 100 litres of storage space and can accommodate up to three bags of shopping.

Energy efficiency

A chest freezer makes meals easier for families who cook in large batches or who wish to reduce food waste. It can also reduce trips to the market particularly if you're growing your own fruits and veggies. Vincent Finazzo of Riverwards Produce in Philadelphia says it's great for keeping excess produce and for cooking microwave-friendly meals.

Chest freezers tend to be extremely well insulated, which means they don't lose any of their cold air when the door is opened, which could happen with fridge or freezer doors. They can also be very energy efficient, particularly when you choose one that has low-frost technology. Low frost models require defrosting less often and will help you save money on your electricity bill.

Many chest freezers have features that make them even more efficient. Look for a power-outage guarantee that states that the unit will not be frozen during the blackout, as well as the alarm to warn you of high temperatures or light to warn you when the temperature inside is rising.

You should also look up the freezer's annual consumption energy in kWh. This will give you an idea of the cost it will take to operate. This figure is usually located in the freezer's manual or label. Some freezers come with a basket for storage which clips to the top to keep best small freezer chests items from becoming lost in the chaos underneath.

Noise

This Bosch integrated model is a fantastic choice for caravans and motorhomes, kitchenettes and student accommodation as it has just enough space to accommodate discreetly. It has a capacity of about 100 litres, which is enough for three bags of shopping and is energy efficient with an A+ rating which means it will not cost you a lot to run. It can keep food frozen for up to 30 hours without power, which makes it a great backup freezer in the event of a blackout.

It is quiet and is simple and minimalist in its design. This is perfect for those who do not want to be disturbed by their freezer when working in the living room or kitchen. It has a convenient interior light and storage baskets to make it easy to organise.

Baskets for storage

Look for models with baskets made of wire that clip over the rim. These will elevate ordinary items like frozen vegetables and chopped onions out of the potentially chaotic mess below. These are also useful for items like open packets, oven chips or frozen vegetables that require to be kept up to the ceiling.

Another handy feature that many customers love is a high temperature alarm or light. It will notify you if the freezer has become too hot due to cleaning, defrosting or the introduction of a large number of frozen food items that aren't frozen. This is a critical security feature, especially if you plan on using the mini chest freezer outdoors or in the garage.

This Bush model has plenty of freezer space at an affordable price, even with its small size. It's ideal for storage of summer ice creams, or stews cooked in batches, and it can even be put in a garage or outbuilding when you'd like to. The counterbalanced lid makes it easy to open, and it's unlikely to shut completely as you dig through.

Chest freezers can be notorious for accumulating a lot of food clutter. If they are not properly organized it's easy to forget what they contain. There are plenty of ways to make a tiny chest freezer more manageable and less prone to waste. The proper system of organisation whether it's a basic magnet list or an elaborate freezer inventory sheet (there is an example here) will ensure that your mini-chest freezer runs smoothly.