boisdevie1
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Running a freezer in the most economical way?I got a A rated freezer last week. I've put it in the coolest place possible (the barn). I don't want to use any extra electricity than necessary so I have a few questions:
1. What's the ideal temp for a freezer?
2. If it's not full, what can I fill it with to keep it running efficiently? I heard that some people use scrunched up newspaper.
3. Presumably if I insulate it further with expanded polystyrene or fibreglass then it'll consume even less power.
Advice gratefully received.
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gnasher
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The best temperature for frozen foods is around -18, I make sure our freezer has scrunched paper to fill any gaps. In terms of insulating it, I am not sure of the answer but I would have thought you would need to keep the elements pretty clear to prevent it from over heating.
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RichardW
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Best temp depends on the food you want to store & how long you want to store it. -18 is ok for short term (6 months up to a year ish) storage but for longer (say over a year) you need -24 or lower. Not all freezers work well in a low temp area like a barn / garage. This used to be a big problem but not sure if it still is. By economical do you mean £ or energy?
Most people assume they are heavily linked.
Cost economy
You could have a freezer that uses more electricity but cost less to run. Set the freezer onto "fast freeze & its coldest setting (not that that make any diffence on fast freeze). Then fit a timer & only allow the freezer to come on during E7 power. Also fit a min max temp themometer with a probe so that you can ensure that gives you enough chilling to stay cold enough all day. On our newer freezers set to -30 at night still stay below -24 all day. Our older freezer needs a top up in the middle of the day to keep to the same temps but thats only needed as we set ourselves the min temp of -24 it does not go above -18 so I doubt you will have a problem.
Dont feel bad about using more power cos the power is going to be produce even if you dont use it at night (and get wasted) & you are saving the production of power in the day.
Power economy
Extra insulation helps but do keep the working bits well ventilated. Keep the opening to a min.
Keep fully loaded. You need mass not air so empty icecream boxes wont realy help much (except stop the loss of the cold air when you open the freezer, which is why upright freezers are much worse than chests).
Richard
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Marionb
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While we're on the subject of freezers.... my freezer keeps icing up a lot, to the extent that the lid doesnt close properly. I scrape the ice off from round the lid when that happens, but I'm wondering if its a sign the freezer needs replacing? It seems to happen every couple of weeks or so now.
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RichardW
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Door seal.
Worn, damaged, baddly fitted, buckled door or uneven floor causing twist in the freezer. Its purely the outside air getting in & then the moisture freezing. You also get more build up when the freezer is opened a lot or lots of food is put in at once to freeze.
Oh & also over filled freezer causing the door to remain ajar.
Richard
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JB
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| Marionb wrote: | | While we're on the subject of freezers.... my freezer keeps icing up a lot, to the extent that the lid doesnt close properly. I scrape the ice off from round the lid when that happens, but I'm wondering if its a sign the freezer needs replacing? It seems to happen every couple of weeks or so now. |
We have a chest freezer that does that if the baskets that sit on top are pushed too far back. They're the baskets that came with the freezer and which are meant to be used with it but if they go too far back or forward they push up the lid seal so that it's not air tight and we get ice building up.
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Belinda
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Rather than empty icecream boxes, a good thing to fill up with is milk cartons filled with water to create mass.
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mihto
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| Belinda wrote: | | Rather than empty icecream boxes, a good thing to fill up with is milk cartons filled with water to create mass. |
If you plan to freeze milk cartons anyway, why not get some nice, fresh fish like mackerel and freeze them in the water? Best way to keep frozen fish. Only reason not to do so is lack of space in the freezer. Lucky you!
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Belinda
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| mihto wrote: | | Belinda wrote: | | Rather than empty icecream boxes, a good thing to fill up with is milk cartons filled with water to create mass. |
If you plan to freeze milk cartons anyway, why not get some nice, fresh fish like mackerel and freeze them in the water? Best way to keep frozen fish. Only reason not to do so is lack of space in the freezer. Lucky you! |
Might be difficult getting mackerel through the small hole in the top of the carton though..... 
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mihto
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 I can clearly see that my knowledge of British milk cartoon design is lacking. Ours we can unfold and they become handy freezing containers for berries, leftover meals and block-frozen fish. Can you just cut the top off, fill them with whatever and tape som foil over the opening?
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Belinda
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Ah right, yes you probably could with the cardboard ones, but a lot of British milk cartons are moulded plastic with a small circular 'bottle top' opening. However they are useful for freezing soups and anything else liquid.
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ariana
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If I have spare space in the freezer I always use the water filled milk containers. Then when I want to go shopping (25 miles from the nearest big town means I always need to cart my insulated boxes around with me) I pop a couple into the cool boxes to make sure they are cold, ready to receive any dairy/frozen/meat products on the return journey.
If you do the same with frozen fruit juice or squash you'll have an instant chilled drink for the kids when they return to the car after a hot afternoon trip as it will by then have thawed to the slushy stage.
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