9 Best chest freezers you can buy in 2021
WITH so many of us trying to limit the number of times we visit the supermarket these days, chest freezers are in high demand.
And it’s easy to see why. They’re useful for freezing large items, preparing food in bulk and in advance, and for or storing gluts of in-season vegetables, as well as simply making the most of special offers in the freezer aisle of the supermarket.
The size of the chest freezer you choose will depend on how much space you have available and where you’re going to keep it.
If you’re lucky enough to have the extra space, a chest freezer can be squeezed into a garage or utility room (bear in mind that many models cannot be sited in places where the temperature falls below 10°C) however most of us will need to site their chest freezers in the kitchen.
Small, square chest freezers of around 100 litres are ideal for small spaces or two-person families, with huge 500+ litre models available for large families.
Unlike regular freezers which are blessed with frost-free functionality, chest freezers need to be manually defrosted to keep them running efficiently and prevent them from icing up – it’s a job you’ll need to do at least once a year, so do bear that in mind if you’re thinking of investing in one.
On the plus side, the lack of bells and whistles when compared to regular freezers means that you can pick a chest freezer fairly cheaply – the cheapest models can be had for as little as £150 while a top-of-the-range chest freezer can be had for around £500.
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1. Indesit
- Indesit OS1A1002UK.1 100-litre chest freezer, £207 from AO –
This neat little chest freezer has an unusual and handy feature – as well as being the perfect size for the freezing requirements of smaller households, the Cool Switch function means that it can also be used as an extra fridge when needed.
It's efficient to run too, with an energy rating of A+, and a Fast Freeze function which works to rapidly lower the freezer’s temperature – great if you’re adding a load of perishable produce, for example.
Russell Hobbs
- Russell Hobbs RHCF142B 142-litre black garage chest freezer, £233.98 from Amazon –
It’s garage-friendly but this matt black freezer looks smart enough to store inside the house, offering medium-sized families a useful 142 litres of extra space for frozen ready meals and batch-cooking.
Other useful features belonging to this model include an adjustable thermostat, a counterbalanced lid to protect your fingers and adjustable feet to help you level it on uneven surfaces.
It also receives an A+ rating for energy efficiency and 4/4 stars for freezer performance, so is an excellent investment all round.
Beko
- Beko CF1300APW 374-litre garage chest freezer, £369 from AO.com –
This popular chest freezer was designed with chilly garages in mind – it can happily tolerate temperatures of -15°C.
With a massive 374-litre capacity, there’s plenty of room for storing loads of frozen foods, with the three smooth rolling baskets and counterbalanced lid making it easier to find what you’re looking for when you need it, without having to rummage.
Other useful features include the Fast Freeze functionality and temperature warning light which lets you know if the appliance has been incorrectly set.
Currys
- Essentials C97CFW18 95-litre garage chest freezer, £149.99 from Currys –
This small chest freezer from Currys' own brand is ideal for storing in the garage as an ‘overflow freezer’ for extra space when you need it.
You don’t get a lot of bells and whistles for the price, but with an A+ energy rating and a healthy 9.2 out of 10 over more than 2,000 customer ratings, it’s a solid buy for small families.
Bush
- Bush BCF198L 198-litre chest freezer, £189.99 from Argos –
This sleek white chest freezer from Bush has some excellent features for its price point, including a counterbalanced lid, an A+ energy rating and power failure safe storage, which will protect the contents of the freezer for 24 hours should your home lose power.
The appliance has also been awarded a Quiet Mark, meaning that you won’t be annoyed by it buzzing and creaking should you need to keep it in the kitchen.
Haier
- Haier HCE429F 519-litre chest freezer, £428.98 from Amazon –
For those who have the room for it, this cavernous chest freezer is able to hold a staggering 28 bags of shopping, so you’ll never miss an offer in the frozen section again.
Other useful features of this A+-rated chest freezer include an interior LED temperature display and a Fast Freeze function to quickly freeze your new purchases as soon as you get home.
Hotpoint
Hotpoint CS1A400FMH Chest Freezer, £399.99, from Argos -
If food storage is your thing, then you'll love the Hotpoint chest freezer. It has a 400 litre three-level modular storage system with racks to keep different types of food safely in place.
Its spacious design means there'll be plenty of room and it even has a 10-year guarantee.
Suitable for outbuildings as well as inside, this investment freezer will be a home staple for years to come.
Whirlpool
Whirlpool WHM3111.1 Chest Freezer, £349.99 from Whirlpool -
If you want a slick addition to your home, then look no further than Whirlpool. Known for its quality kitchen equipment since 1911 this new WHM3111.1 chest freezer has a large capacity of 312 litres.
With handy moveable shelf racks, there won't be any quibbles about where to store smaller items and it also comes equipped with fast freezing technology to make freezing that little bit quicker.
With its lockable door it's also ideal for outbuildings or garages. Obsessed.
Smeg
- CO232E 110cm Chest Freezer, £369, from Smeg -
The Smeg CO232E is an innovative design that alerts you if the temperature in the freezer is too high. This clever alarm light function will ensure that everything is kept at the correct freezer temperature and will also freeze food immediately with its fast freeze function.
It's not as big as some standard chest freezers, with its 232-litre capacity, but we think it's the star of the show if you need it for a small space.
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