[egglady]

We have a large uprgith freezer and also a fairly large chest freezer.  This year they are stuffed full and I think it's safe to say that we are going to run out of space just very shortly...good news and bad in a oner!

so I think we need to buy a new one, probably a smallish chest one so that we can switch on and off as produce levels vary.

What do folks recommend? 

As ever, we are a bit strapped for spare cash, so looking for something cheap and cheerful

Thanks

[SallyintNorth]

I bought myself a medium sized chest freezer this year and would strongly advise that you look up customer reviews on any model you may be going to buy before making a decision - particularly if you are wanting a 'cheap and cheerful' solution. 

For instance, the Norwest chest freezer will come up frequently, it's not too large and not expensive.  But if you check the customer reviews you will find it nearly always has a problem with the lid shutting (a friend of mine bought one and hers does too); a few people have checked how much food it can freeze and found it does not freeze as much as quickly as its literature would suggest, and several have found that it doesn't readily maintain the required -18 deg C internally (whether this is linked to the faulty lid shutting I don't know.)

Even if you are buying second hand you should still be able to find customer reviews on the model itself (try websites like Comet, Currys, John Lewis etc, or just google it) before you decide.

Best of luck!
Cheers
Sally x

[egglady]

thanks Sally, yes i do usually check reviews but I also like to ask folks that I think will know too....belt and braces :)oh and thanks for the heads up about the Norwest one

[Crofter]

We bought a 4 fott long chest freezer by Swan and it's been no trouble over the past 2 years. Lid workd OK and it seals well.  No frost around the top either. Only drawback is it has no internal light. Not a problem for us as it's in a well lit barn, but may be an issue for you.

Dave

[waterhouse]

We tend to buy John Lewis because they only sell stuff that works and I can't afford Miele.  New freezers will be far more economical to run than older models.

Incidentally it's called a chest freezer cos that's what happens when you lean in to get to the stuff at the bottom.

[Bionic]

'Incidentally it's called a chest freezer cos that's what happens when you lean in to get to the stuff at the bottom'

Very funny Waterhouse   

[egglady]

ordered!
thnks everyone