Tips on How to Select the Type of Freezer that Will Satisfy Your Needs

 

Choosing the right freezer to suit your family's requirements may be more difficult than you thought. There’s an endless choice of models in all different shapes and sizes. For those struggling to make a decision, we’ve put together this handy buying guide with everything you need to know.

Choosing the capacity

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Finding the right-sized freezer for you depends largely on your eating habits as well as the size of your kitchen. For those who consume a lot of fresh produce, a combined fridge-freezer would be more than sufficient. But if you enjoy frozen ready meals and prefer to store leftovers, a stand-alone freezer is essential.

Chest freezers generally have the largest capacity but due to their size, they’re best kept in a garage or utility room. These are great for storing large and awkward sized items such as a full chicken. Many include wire baskets but due to their shape, there’s no shelves which can make it harder to organize your food.

An upright freezer is a great alternative, still providing heaps of space but a narrow shape means it can easily be fitted in your kitchen. With compartments and shelves, you won’t have any problems finding your food when you need it.

Finally, a smaller integrated freezer or under-counter unit can be very well hidden in your kitchen. As the door of the freezer can match your kitchen interior, you won’t even know it’s there. This is the lowest capacity option but is perfect for smaller kitchens where space is limited.

Is it efficient?

Once you’ve chosen the appropriate size of the freezer, it’s important to choose a model with a good energy rating. All appliances must provide an efficiency grading, ranging from A to G. The most expensive freezer’s often have an A grading, providing assurance that the appliance offers maximum efficiency.

These may include a thicker layer of insulation or have added extras from an automatic door close to sound alerts when the door is left open. It may be larger outlay but running costs are much lower. In the long term, you’ll make a considerable saving off your electricity bill, making the A graded appliances a smart investment.

Don’t forget the extras

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Many freezers now come with extras, so it’s worth shopping around to find the most affordable appliance which offers all the mod cons. A fast freeze feature is particularly useful, allowing you to quickly decrease the temperature when filling with fresh ingredients or recently purchased produce. This provides optimum conditions to preserve the food and prevents the temperature increasing when warmer items are added.

A frost-free function is also beneficial, preventing that annoying icy build up. It means very little maintenance is required and you’ll never have to defrost the freezer. It also protects your food, ensuring a regulated temperature. Although these additional extras will be more costly, they could be beneficial for those who frequently use their freezer.

Follow this guide before making your freezer purchase and you’ll be guaranteed the perfect appliance for your needs..

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