A buyer's guide to small chest freezers

Chest freezers do a better job than upright freezers in keeping food cold adequately for 24 hours even if the power fails. There are several manufacturer recommendations on how to choose the right freezer to suit your needs and to adhere to food safety standards. Find out from this buyers’ guide to small chest freezers.

Small chest freezers

A chest freezer is best suited to those who buy foodstuffs like meat in bulk and need to freeze them for extended periods of time. With regards to the volume of food that can be held in a chest freezer, storage capacities range between four cubic feet or just over 100 litres which is suitable for a single person, couple or small family up to 25 cubic feet or just over 700 litres which is suitable for large families.

Choosing a chest freezer

Generally speaking, larger freezers have a greater the energy consumption. So, consider whether an upright or small chest freezer better meets your needs. An upright freezer saves on space with its front-mounted door just like a refrigerator and shelves that allow for easy organisation. A chest freezer typically requires more floor space but it is usually more energy-efficient because the door opens from the top and allows less cold air to escape. Manual defrost Manual defrost freezers use significantly less energy than automatic defrost or frost free models, but must be defrosted periodically to realise the energy savings. Don’t allow frost to build up more than a quarter of an inch to maximise energy. “Freezer burn” which can have a detrimental effect on the texture and taste of food is also prevented with regular defrosting.

Energy use

When buying freezers, read the label to determine the model’s energy use and compare the energy use of similar models. The more energy-efficient your mini freezer is, the less it costs to operate, and the lower your utility bills. Using less energy is good for the environment, too because it can reduce air pollution and help to conserve natural resources.

Manufacturer’s recommendations

Most manufacturers recommend that freezers should operate in a room where the temperature is between 32 degrees and 110 degrees F, although spaces colder than 32 degrees F will not affect freezer operation. If you plan to house the freezer in an unheated area, such as a garage, follow the manufacturer's specified operating range.