Is it worth buying a chest freezer?

geordie_joe

stilernin wrote: »

I used to keep my 'coffin' of a chest freezer tidy by using supermarket cardboard boxes.

Now that IS a good idea, I'm off to find some boxes. :j

locutus2003

stilernin wrote: »

I from Bejams (who remembers them?)

I do!:j:j They did the best chocolate sauce ever.

Great idea about the boxes - will really help to keep it tidy.

Will also use the redundant white board from the kitchen to put in the garage next to the freezer janiebaby29 - really good idea.

champys

geordie_joe wrote: »

Now that IS a good idea, I'm off to find some boxes. :j

Me too! Why have I never thought of this before??

Penny-Pincher!!

locutus2003 wrote: »

Thanks for this - funnily enough I could only find it discontinued in my short search. However, did find several energy saving monitors which might be a possibility at some point!

I bought mine from Ebay a couple of years ago and it has defintely reduced our electric bill.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I have the product and have used it for 2 years and based on my facts, the product does work and does save you money.

PP
xx

mummysaver

I have an upright freezer for hm ready meals, ice creams and things I use for the kids sarnies (grated cheese, sliced gammon, traybakes), and two chest freezers, one for meat and one for veg. These three are all out in the garage and are fine there, I live in the South West now but have lived all over the place barring the very north of Scotland, and have never had any problems. I also have a fridge freezer in my kitchen, which is used for stuff like peas and peppers and garlic and herbs (those big packs that are reduced to pennies at the end of the day), anything that I grab quick for cooking really.

I wouldn't be without them, they enable me to buy whole/part animals, freeze any veg and fruit that is cheap/reduced/whoopsied, given to me or picked from the hedgerow or garden, store ready meals (leftovers or double cooked portions), tom sauces batch cooked, baked beans, dried cooked beans, soups, hm bread, cakes, baking of all sorts, and things like butter and cheese bought when they are on special offer.

I thoroughly recommend having a freezer if you have the space and can afford it, just make sure that you have some kind of organisation such as carrier bags or boxes and that you keep a note of what you have in there!

Edit: just to add that there is me, 4 kids between 15 and 8 with huge appetites, oh half the week and assorted friends of mine and the kids who appear or come to stay regularly to feed! Though I do admit that I am a freezer addict!

zippychick

I can't believe no one suggested getting one free off freecycle.....! They are always going!

rational_kitchens

i am a kitchen designer from the kitchen store in sheffield. we sell luxury rational kitchens and i meet a lot of people. the question to a chest freezer is ... no... it will just get full full full and you will find stuff in the bottom from 10 years ago..!!!!
if you ever in the market for a luxury rational kitchens please visit my web site.. the site is only for information only.. regards.. eddie grant

sexki11en

We bought our chest freezer from Ebay for the princely sum of £50 after reading about others having one one here.

I cannot tell you how much of a moneysaver it's been.

Its allowed us to buy:
A whole lamb for £60
10 loaves of kingsmill for £6.40 (makro - regular basis - I don't make bread)
6x 4pints milk for something like 80p each
Loads of whoopsies
20kg chicken from chinese supermarket :eek:

The list is endless.

We've had a real shock moneywise this week regarding next months wages, meaning we don't have ANY money for shopping, but because of that freezer, we're fine for about 6 weeks worth of food (am re doing the freezer inventory tomorrow so will know how much for sure then)

Best MS thing we EVER did.

SK x

Trinny

Hi there

No matter what type of freezer you end up getting - if you have enough freezer space, you can make the most of batch cooking and store gluts of fruit and veg (home grown, foraged or whoops!). The trouble is - if you are a food hoarder, sooner or later you will fill the freezer and be back to square 1.

I have two fridge freezers - one bought and one inherited - they are the large fridge, small freezer ones. We got given an old chest freezer - and we try to be disciplined - so that its only on when storing stuff from our allotment, or hedgerow goodies. At other times -eg winter - its switched off. Its for emergency room only - and that works best for us.

Re the hubbie debate - why not ask for one on Freecycle - as long as you can collect it - you could get one for free, then its not a question of finances.

Trin

Primrose

The next best thing to having a second freezer is to have a regularly used freezer inventory (preferably on a spreadsheet or similar facility) which can be updated regularly. Menu planning is so much easier when you can look at your inventory and be reminded of what's in the freezer and what needs using up. The only problem is that you do have to be disciplined and keep it updated every time you either put something in, or take something out.but this extra space does allow you to take advantage of special offers and do lots of batch cooking when ingredients are cheap or good value. For anybody who is short of space, an upright freezer will take up far less floor space in a garage or freezer, and for short people who can't easily reach to the bottom of a chest freezer, an upright is far better for accessing everything that's store in it.