Choosing a Chest Freezer For an Outbuilding
Many freezers are found in garages, outbuildings, and utility rooms, where temperatures can drop significantly. When selecting a chest freezer for these types of locations, it is essential to think about the ideal temperature range (also known as climate class) it is designed to operate within.
Look for a model which has an LCD display, storage baskets, and a warranty.
Size
With a generous 519 litres of room This chest freezer is big enough to help you avoid trips to the store for meals in bulk and keep fresher foods longer. It's also affordable and offers a lot of storage space at an affordable cost. However, with no internal compartments or one storage basket, organising your food properly is important or you might not ever find what you're looking for.
A chest freezer has only one compartment and consumes less energy than upright models which have storage compartments. This means you'll reduce your energy bills. It is also quieter and doesn't get quite as cold as a refrigerator which makes it a great option for your garage.
It's worth checking the specifications of a freezer to make sure it's suitable in the temperature of your house or outbuilding. Frydge are "garage optimized that is to say their internal components have been designed and tested to perform at higher temperatures than fridges. These freezers are usually marked with "Garage Ready. They might also list this feature in their description or name.
If you're looking for a low-cost freezer to store summer ice creams or stews cooked in batch this basic model from LOGIK is a great choice. It's not as energy efficient as other models, but it's great for those looking to store frozen food items.
Temperature
Keep a freezer away of the house to avoid harsh weather conditions. If your garage or outbuilding is well-insulated and controlled by climate your freezer might struggle to keep food cool at all times.
You can avoid this by choosing a freezer which can operate effectively at low ambient temperatures. This can be done by looking for models that say "low ambient temperature" in their specifications or "garage optimized". Some models, such as the Arctic King freezer have a minimum temperature of 10 degrees Celsius which is ideal for most garages and outbuildings.
If you're looking for a cheap chest freezer that is able to function in cold ambient temps look into the Bush MECF99W. It can provide more than 100 litres of additional storage for a reasonable price, with a mechanical thermostat and manual defrost. It also comes with an alert for temperature and heavy-duty sliding baskets.
Other models, like the Maytag Garage Ready Freezer, can be converted from freezer to refrigerator to meet consumer storage requirements. They are tested between 0 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit. This model comes with a warranty from the manufacturer, and its internal parts are designed to last for a long time. Its Power Loss Assist feature also ensures food is frozen in the event of power outages providing consumers with peace of mind.
Convenience
A chest freezer provides you with additional food storage space and allows you to cut down on trips to the supermarket and batch cook meals for your family. It's also a great option to make the most of the bounty from your garden or allotment and reduce food waste.
For those who live in a region with moderate temperatures, storing your freezer in the garage or an outbuilding might be an ideal option, provided that it's well insulated and not too close to heat-producing appliances. If you live in an extremely cold climate, you must purchase a freezer that is able to be used outside and operate in a safe manner even at temperatures as low as -10C. These freezers are typically classified as SN and brands like Beko, Russell Hobbs Ice King and Currys provide models that meet the requirements.
In addition to the temperature, you should be sure that the freezer you've chosen has adequate headroom so that you can access it easily. You'll need at minimum an inch of room on either side to allow airflow and avoid problems such as frost accumulation. It's also important to check the energy rating of a freezer A+++ models consuming the least amount of electricity. If your chest freezer doesn't have a rating, you should store it indoors to reduce your energy costs.
Maintenance
While chest freezers can have a longer life span than upright freezers, it doesn't mean you won't need to replace or repair them. Reel Simple recommends that you should wash the inside of your freezer using dish soap and warm water. It is also recommended to remove any food items that are not safe to freeze prior to putting them back in the freezer. It is also important to clean the condenser coils at least every six months in order to prevent dust buildup and the unit from working more than is necessary.
Avoid freezing your freezer in conditions of extreme humidity or heat. This could cause the fridge to overwork and lead to malfunctions. Additionally, you should regularly check the freezer's temperature to ensure that it is set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you're looking for a way to cut down the amount of maintenance required by your freezer, think about opting for one that self-defrosts. The majority of upright freezers have this feature. However chest freezers are typically manually defrosted. This can be a time-consuming task, so it's a good option to select one with a drain located at the base of the unit or on wheels to facilitate moving and emptying. In addition, many freezers come with warranties that provide peace of mind in the event that the appliance fails.