A chest freezer is a really useful thing to have – particularly if you have a large family – but this bit of kit is also heavy, cumbersome and takes up a lot of space. In this article, we’re exploring ways to optimize long-term storage for your chest freezer; both when in use and not. 

You’ve come a long way, baby

Until 1940, home freezing was limited to a narrow shelf designed to hold an ice-cube tray. These days, a more sophisticated freezer can be found in most kitchens and many people also opt for a chest freezer – a large, deep freezer designed to keep a large amount of produce frozen for long periods of time. 

Ice-ly does it for storage

While a chest freezer is useful and can certainly help a family to save money, the downsides are that they use a significant amount of electricity and take up a lot of space; which is not ideal if you live in a small home. In this section we’re looking at solutions for optimizing long-term storage of your chest freezer: 

Storing your chest freezer when in use

If you’re using your chest freezer on an ongoing basis, you’ll want to store it somewhere convenient without it taking over your entire kitchen so, here, we’re going to look at some options: 

The garage

If you have a freezer attached to your home, this is probably the easiest and most common storage solution  – particularly if you are able to access the garage directly from inside your home. For this solution to be effective, you need to ensure that all plumbing and electric work is done by professionals to avoid the risk of fire or flood. 

You will also need to pay attention to the temperature inside your garage as excessive heat or cold can damage your freezer. 

The basement

If your home features a basement, this can also be a good place to store your chest freezer when it is in use. A basement will usually offer relatively easy access to your freezer and it may also be easier to control the temperature in the basement than in a garage which is, essentially, an outdoor space. When storing your chest freezer in a basement, you will first want to make sure that the flooring is strong enough to support the appliance and, then, you’ll also need to make sure that your basement electrics and plumbing are up to scratch. 

Keep your cool

Whatever storage chest freezer solution you choose while in use, it’s important to keep your freezer well maintained including making sure that you don’t overfill it as this will negate its effectiveness. Get into the habit of checking the temperature on a regular basis to ensure that your freezer is working properly as, if it stops working, all of your stored food could be ruined. 

Storage for chest freezer when not in use

A freezer which is not in use can take up a frustrating amount of space as well as, in some cases, creating a hazard. In this section, we’re looking at the best way to store / dispose of your chest freezer when not in use: 

Broken freezers

A surprisingly large number of people hang onto their chest freezers, even when they are no longer operational. As well as taking up vital space, broken freezers can be dangerous and so your best course of action is to dispose of them. You can do this by either taking it to your local tip or by paying your local council to do this for you. 

If, for whatever reason, you’re unable to dispose of your old, broken chest freezer, you need to make sure that it doesn’t pose a hazard to humans or animals. For this reason, you should remove the plug from your appliance and, also, remove the door to prevent children or pets becoming trapped inside. 

Working freezers

If you’re looking for storage chest freezer tips when the appliance is still working, we’ve got you covered: 

– First, defrost the freezer completely

– Next, wash the inside and outside of the freezer thoroughly

– Wrap the appliance in blankets or rags and secure in place

– Disable the door of the appliance to prevent children and pets being trapped inside

It’s generally not recommended to keep a freezer out of use for more than 12 months so, if you need to do so, it’s worth switching it back on for a day or so every couple of months to keep it running. 

Cold comfort

Like most appliances and white goods, a chest freezer is an expensive bit of kit and, as such, you should always store and maintain it correctly to ensure that it not only stays in working condition for as long as possible but, also, to make sure that it doesn’t present a danger to your home, family or pets.