Is it worth buying a chest freezer?

heavenleigh

Hello all,

After finding these boards a few months ago one of the main things i have noticed is the talk of batch cooking.

Problem is i just dont have room in my fridge freezer to store much, i went for the over large fridge and smaller freezer compartment but that was pre kids and worked well at the time.

I need some benefits of forking out on a chest freezer other than 'because i want one' to talk hubby round to buying one.

Also are there different kinds? if so which is the best to go for?

Thanks in advance,

Leigh xx

blackvelvetshoes

It's definitely worth buying one if you can as you can take a lot more advantage of special offers and cheaper bulk buys & BOGOFs too,not to mention all batch cooking & baking as well.We've got 2 smaller upright freezers with pull out drawers,I say small but you can get lots & lots in them.The reason we went for this option is mainly because we don't have the space for a large chest freezer in our tiny house,so we can better fit them into the small spaces we do have. The other advantage is we do a massive stock up shop every couple of months and fill them up and then as one empties down we can turn it off and just run the other one & save some electric until we are ready to go for a big stock up shop again. Hope that helps

lynzpower

I dont have one but its definatley on my wish list.

We just have a normal FF and i have lost count of the amount of times when Ive been in supermarkets and Ive seen reduced bargains on meat/bread etc and nowhere to put them. typically next time i go back and need that bread/meat/cheese etc it full price again. Also stuff like breadcrumbs ( I often have to throw half loaves as theres no room) or veg ( ie potatoes on way out etc) whereas with a chest freezer I could have peeled & froze etc

Plus if you have a big freezer- you can always guarantee theres srtuff lurking at the bottom for when you need to do storecupboard challenge - much more interesting than just a small freezer

Why not get one off ebay? then if you dont use it just resell it? While Ive been looking for one ( not that i have the space is my reason) they have been going around the 20 quid mark if not less. man with van will pick & deliver round my way for about 15 quid, which is a substantial saving on a new one from argos & the like.

Crazychik

Hi Leigh

I have 2 fridge freezers (1 was donated to me from OH's aunty), I would be lost without it.
I do a lot of home cooking, and any extra meals, always get frozen. It comes in handy for those days when a little skint for food shopping or cant be bothered to cook.
It would be ideal in your situation with being pregnant, to invest one, (or even request one on freecycle), start bulking them out, and then at least you've got pre-made meals on hand, for those days when your busy with baby!

Try putting ad on freecyle first, then look in your local ad-mag or bargain pages, then if it turns out unsuitable, you've not lost a great deal.

buxtonrabbitgreen

I don't like chest freezers myself. It is hard to find anything. Everything you want always seems to be at the bottom. I have just had a large upright freezer. It has 4 drawers and an open shelf at the top. I find this perfect as i have drawers for meat, veg, fruit. stuff from batch cooking and the top shelf for anything that doesn't have a category. So I know where to find everything even when I didn't bother to label it. Ie I know at least whether I am defrosting something savoury. ps we also have a small chest freezer in the shed for overflow of free fruit etc, and a small freezer in the fridge which is where I keep all the veggie stuff, so my DS knows where to look for meals between meals.

Blairweech

We have 2 freezers - one a big upright one and one a smaller fridge/freezer. We are about to change our fridge/freezer for an undercounter fridge, and put a chest freezer in the shed. Now that I think about it though - might get an upright!

It is definantly worth having the extra freezer space e.g. last night got milk @ 15p - straight in the freezer. When I lived in a flat with a freezer compartment in my fridge, the amount of food that went off was unbelieveable. I plan on using one freezer for bread, milk etc, and the other one for HM ready meals (might change, haven't quite thought it through)

Try looking on freecycle or in the paper for a freezer and make sure you keep a list of the contents!

Angelraesunshine

I love my chest freezer and would recommend one i had a square one for years and it was very old and broke down this time i went for a bigger one 2 sizes up rectangle and love it. It is great for if you batch cook or meal plan ahead i do it for a month ahead for 5 of us. Is great if you want to get lost of bogof's or buy up when on offer to keep cost lower for the following month which i do with mine. Most are so reasonable priced to.

jaytar

I sold my chest freezer. I hated having to get almost everything out just to find something and then having to pile it all back in again. I bought an upright instead and its so much easier.

rev229

I have a chest freezer in the garage and it is great. I never buy bread unless it is 1/2 price so always ahve some in the freezer. I do buy rolls from the bakers for packed lunches but buy enough for the week. We also buy cooked ham, beef and turkey in the large costco packs and the I divide them up ito a weeks supply of packed lunch meats so no waste at all. I bulk buy from the butchers (much cheaper) Batch cook. And also buy veg in bulk and freeze that, just par boil. I do use the plastic baskets, the coloured ones about A4 size and group things together, ie large joints at the bottom,cooked meats, frozen veg, potato products, fish they all have their own basket. (Very organised) . It is great not having to do a big shop every week, I only shop for milk and fruit. We have a waitrose tha reduces bread by 50% so great for that. We also meal plan which is so much easier as we now shop from our freezer!!

Pink.

Hi heavenleigh,

I keep my chest freezer in the garage too and I couldn't be without it. If it died tomorrow I'd have to replace it straight away. It's great for bulk buying large items and reduced items but comes into it's own for bulk cooking. It's fantastic for doing a storecupboard week when you don't want to spend much and if you keep a list or freezer book like my stepmum does (I don't, because I'm not that organised) of what's in there then size and losing/finding things shouldn't be a problem.

If you have the space then if I were you, I'd go for it.

Pink

Penelope_Penguin

Pink-winged wrote: »

Hi heavenleigh,

I keep my chest freezer in the garage too and I couldn't be without it. If it died tomorrow I'd have to replace it straight away. It's great for bulk buying large items and reduced items but comes into it's own for bulk cooking. It's fantastic for doing a storecupboard week when you don't want to spend much and if you keep a list or freezer book like my stepmum does (I don't, because I'm not that organised) of what's in there then size and losing/finding things shouldn't be a problem.

If you have the space then if I were you, I'd go for it.

Pink

I'm the same. Have a big chest freezer in the garage. We had a fridge/freezer inside, but when that died anout 5 years ago, replaced that with a big upright fridge.

I wouldn't be without my chest freezer, either. When I bought it, they were much more economical (both on initial outlay and running costs) than a similar sized upright freezer.

I fill mine with batch cooking, shopping bargains, contents of my meat box, and home grown produce.

Main downside is not being able to find things. I'm at the end of a major freezer clear out (it's in desperate need of a defrost :eek: ) but I still have 4 packets of tortillas, and 6 boxes of Magnums to finish :rolleyes:

Penny. x