Dogwalker
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Recomendations pleaseSoon I will be buying a fridge and freezer. Any recomendations and experience of suppliers gratefully received.
Fridge - under worktop, doesn't need a freezer compartment,
Chest freezer - don't know what size I need not had one before.
On a smallholding, will have fruit, veg, hens, goats, possibly sheep.
On my own but with visiting friends and young adult offspring.
Both must be energy efficient.
Any advise on make, size etc please.
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gil
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Dunno about energy efficiency [think it was C-rated], but I got the largest-sized Whirlpool chest freezer from the nearest branch of Comet, which if I only had the one freezer would do me very nicely for storing all my fruit, veg, and forage, baking / dealing with leftovers / the occasional half pig/mutton.
Only me here, but freezing is my preferred method of preserving. Instead of, for example, bottling plums etc in Kilners.
It's about 5' long.
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alice
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I have two small chest freezers. At certain times of year, when they are only half full I bung everything in one, switch the other off and just run one full one. Also makes defrosting them a doddle.
ETA. Oh and I've only got a little fridge, no icebox. I don't have much that needs refrigerating, not having access to the usual supermarket chiller cabinet. I probably wouldn't bother at all if it wasn't for the milk. I buy/cook/eat fresh stuff on the same day. If I want to keep it any longer I freeze it.
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gil
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| alice wrote: | | I have two small chest freezers. At certain times of year, when they are only half full I bung everything in one, switch the other off and just run one full one. Also makes defrosting them a doddle |
That's a really good point. I have had two large freezers, and done the same.
I also switch the fridge off in winter.
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Dogwalker
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Thanks so far.
That's a good point about two smaller ones.
I've only ever had a small under worktop passed on freezer before, but now the kids aren't here full-time and I don't have to keep frozen pizzas etc on supply I can eat what I want.
Next year I hope to have the garden producing and I've got a friend waiting to cull the rabbits as soon as I've got a freezer and a working kitchen.
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nettie
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I've got one of the little Norfrost chest freezers, it wasn't expensive, was B rated I think and has done the job very well so far.
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boisdevie1
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If you get a chest freezer put it somewhere cold like a cellar or barn. That way you'll use less power. We got an A rated freezer and it works wonders. We've even cut out electricity useage.
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stumbling goat
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downside to chest freezers IMHO is the floor space they take up, I think i read that they lose more cool air when opened than an upright but i may be recollecting wrong.
edited - to add that if you put it somewhere cold like a barn or outhouse it has to be a certain type of freezer, something to do with the way the thermostats work. i read this in a which magazine in a library.
da
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gz
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My fridge and freezer are both upright and are Comet's own brand- Scandinova- high rating (can't remember offhand but I know they are high as they had a special offer if you gave them your old one and got a high rated one).
Back to the point-Being their own brand they were cheaper, and they have behaved well (About 8 yrs old?) Good value 
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Treacodactyl
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| stumbling goat wrote: | | downside to chest freezers IMHO is the floor space they take up, I think i read that they lose more cool air when opened than an upright but i may be recollecting wrong. |
I'm sure it's the other way around. Upright freezers lose more cold air when opened compared to a chest freezer. Cold air sinks, so when you open a door of an upright it falls out of the freezer, whereas a chest freezer it's contained.
You're right about the siting of them, many need a room of 10°C or more to function correctly so worth checking if it can be situated in a shed or whatever.
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Dogwalker
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I'd planned to put it in the wash-house, brick/CI walls, CI roof, so hot in sunny weather, cold in winter, so not the best place.
My brother said his freezer in the garage got confused last winter with the freezing weather andworked in reverse.
The wash-house will probably have to do for now but will be reroofed in stage two of improvement, hopefully next year.
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