Is it worth having a second freezer

APennySaved

Hi :j (newbie here!)

I am considering buying a chest freezer, so that VFM/on-sale! goodies from the supermarket can be saved for that rainy day etc.!

At present our fridge-freezer can really only store the standard vegs, ice lollies, key meals & a few other necessities to have to hand in the kitchen. I have realised I now have to avoid buying a reduced-food bargain, as there is no extra space to store it!

Our plan is to put the chest freezer (small'ish size, I reckon) in the garage (lack of space being an issue in the kitchen!).

However, I need to know the cost of running a chest freezer - electricity-wise. Obviously I don't want to save on food goods, only to spend on storing them! :eek:

Does anyone have any advice? OR has anyone tried this themselves only to find the running cost is just not worth it.

All advice appreciated!

Rainy-Days

It all depends on what star rating you are going to purchase on the freezer. The average annual running costs are listed below:-

A++Less than £15.80
A+ £19.61
A £26.42
B £35.40
C £44.93
D £51.74
E £57.18
F £63.99
G£68.63

For me personally I have mine out in the garage and would never ever be without it. It means I only need to go shopping once per week and living in a village means that I don't have to use the car to make extra special trips to the supermarket. I can bulk buy all of my meat from the butcher in 10lb quantities and he gives me extra discount because of the freezer sizes I buy in. I put a 4 pint milk carton in there in November and when the weather turned bad the last two years it meant I didn't have to go out just to buy milk and bread because it was already in the freezer. I can buy discounted foods and sink them in there as well.

The biggest boon is the reduction in shopping trips I suppose so I save on the petrol costs. I clean mine out twice per year to give it optimum performance with freezing and running costs. I just couldn't part with my freezer I really could not. In fact we only have an integrated larder fridge in the kitchen now as we have an integral garage which means a short trip down the hallway and through a door to the garage and my beloved giant freezer is there. It's personal preference I suppose but the advantages outweigh the disadvantages and the overall running cost of mine outweighs what I save in the longer term, through time, convenience and the petrol costs!

APennySaved

Thanks Rainy-Days: both financial cost - in exactitude (where DID you get this info?! it's great!) & superb advice on what it's like to own a chest freezer - all from just 1 forum user - great!

You've confirmed what I thought - that it can be cost-wise to bullk-store. :T

I shall look into the cost of a small'ish chest freezer ASAP.

Yes, I too like to store foods e.g. bread & milk; these won't normally fit in our current overstocked fridge-freezer.

I agree with you: they're great to have if you're ill & can't get out to the shops! I like bulk-buying bacon too - means you pay less & then you can separate them into smaller 'parcels' & get out just what you need for a weekend 'sarnie', on a Friday evening.

Thanks again - looking forward to storing my Bargains Galore!!

APennySaved

lizzyb1812

I second ApennySaved - many thanks for letting us know the running costs of a freezer - my glut of garden produce is worth way more than the cost of a second freezer and its running costs. Excellent result - thank you:)

moments_of_sanity

Might be worth looking at your local freecycle site, we have just got a second freezer completely free :j

zippychick

ive merged this with our existing thread on having a second freezer

Zip

APennySaved

Thanks zippychick - I didn't see/find the other thread! when I first searched the forum, otherwise I would have read & posted my query there! So thanks for moving it.

Rainy-Days

moments_of_sanity wrote: »

Might be worth looking at your local freecycle site, we have just got a second freezer completely free :j

This is a seriously good idea because not only are you not having a big outlay buying your first, you will soon see how much you need/depend on it. There is just the two of us in our place (plus two dogs and two horses as well ) and we upped our freezer size when we replaced our old one (which was second hand from OH colleague who was going up a size). Believe me you will fill it no problem and house insurance wise you are covered up to around £250.00 on breakdown/loss of electricity.

rubberbiscuit

do you have?? and is it enough?
Ive only started home cooking and batch cooking seriously this year and am already frustrated by my lack of freezer space!:( I have my fridgefreezer which is 2 large drawers and a half sized drawer and it just isnt enough. *stamps foot*
Ideally Id like to be able to batch cook at least 20 lunches, dinners, breakfasts and snacks for the month...(Im currently drooling over chest freezers!!LOL):o

midnightraven3

i have a hooge american fridge freezer and another freezer outside
both choc full
i think no matter how much space i had i would still fill it!

i hated my chest freezer and freecycled it
all that rummaging wasnt for me
i prefer the organised drawers