Buying a Chest Freezer For Your Outbuilding
If you own an outbuilding or garage you should look at chest freezers for your outbuilding. They can aid in food storage, preserving fruits and vegetables and even free up space within the house.
Chest freezers are able to keep frozen better than upright freezers because air circulation isn't as good. Look for one with high energy label ratings to reduce running costs too.
Size
When choosing a chest for your freezer make sure you know how much storage space you'll need. A good rule of thumb is to have one cubic foot of freezer space for each household member. If you have more people than that, then you'll need a larger freezer. If you plan on keeping it outside, you may want to consider a chest freezer with locks. This will prevent anyone from stealing your frozen food.
Another crucial aspect to take into consideration is whether you'd like your freezer chest to be able to operate at temperatures that are freezing. If so, choose an item that can be able to withstand temperatures below freezing, or you'll be unable to keep the contents fresh. Freezers that are designed to withstand freezing temperatures are usually better constructed to withstand cold temperatures than those made to be used indoors, so they can keep their contents frozen longer.
This compact model by Midea is perfect for those looking for a small, garage-friendly freezer. It has a capacity of 7.2 cubic feet and can be used both in indoor and outdoor settings. It features a manual drain for defrost as well as an adjustable temperature control, and comes with storage baskets for additional organization. Its price is low, which means you'll need to sacrifice a few features, such as the lid that is counterbalanced as well as an internal light, but it's a simple compromise when you want to maximize the storage space in your freezer.
Energy efficiency
Chest freezers are typically shorter and lower to ground than upright models, which makes them ideal for tight spaces. In addition, they are able to operate in colder environments than standard freezers and use less power. This is due to the side-wall insulation that maintains them at very low temperatures without consuming a lot of energy.
For greater energy efficiency, look for an ENERGY STAR certified chest freezer. These can offer up to 10 percent more energy savings than minimum federal standards, and feature thick insulation to lock in optimal temperatures. Some utilities even offer rebates on these items Check to see if yours does.
The annual energy consumption of the freezer is also important to keep in mind. It is typically expressed as a KWh number (1 KWh = one unit of electricity). Some manufacturers will provide this information on their product or in their user's manual, while others provide the information online.
It's also worth checking the weight prior to buying. Make a plan if you require assistance in moving it into or out of the garage or outbuilding. You might also think about purchasing a model that has caster wheels or rollers, which will make it easier to move around. If you intend to use the freezer website for outdoor activities, such as gardening or hunting then you must be sure that it's capable of operating in freezing temperatures.
Convenience
A chest freezer is an excellent addition to any outbuilding or garage regardless of whether you're a hunter or gardener, or have lots of leftover food from cooking. It offers more storage space than a standard refrigerator which is perfect for those who buy in large quantities or are preserving the produce from their vegetable garden. Some models can hold meat. This is a great method to buy food items for the winter.
Chest freezers are cheaper than upright freezers as they use less energy due to the insulation of their sides. These freezers also have several useful features like a defrost drain and a temperature control manual. Some models include a speed-freeze function that decreases time to freeze certain foods.
Most freezers can operate safely at temperatures as low as -18 Celsius. This is ideal for colder climates. Residents who live close to the coast should look for freezers that are designed to withstand sea air, as salt could cause damage to freezers over time.
Beko and Russell Hobbs models are also available to those who want the best freezer that lasts. These companies were among the first to make sure their freezers are able to be safely used in non-heated buildings by testing them in temperatures as low as -15 degrees Celsius.
Safety
Keep your freezer in a garage or some other space that is secure from the elements. Some people say that they have their freezers outside without a problem. However, most experts in repair of appliances believe that this isn't an ideal solution. The temperatures outside can be too cold to keep a freezer running efficiently, and the humidity in the air can end up damaging it over time.
The freezer in the chest should have a lock to prevent children from opening it, as well as the lid is heavy and difficult to open accidentally. It should also have wire bins or shelves to store smaller items and an reversible, reversible direction door.
A good freezer has an alarm for temperature that will sound when the temperature inside starts to rise. This can help conserve food since it will notify you ahead of time in the event of any issue. Look for a freezer with this feature, and make sure that it has the ability to drain the freezer after defrost.
Another feature to consider is whether the freezer has interior lighting. This feature is essential to maintaining the freezer's organization and organized, particularly if you store it in a dark place like a basement or garage. This feature lets you locate what you are searching for faster and reduces the amount of times that the freezer lid is opened in error, which could cause the temperature to drop.