Kitchen Tips: Essential Guide to Purchasing the Right Freezer

Along with refrigerators, most homemakers have realized that freezers are also an essential part of their kitchen equipment. These great appliances not only inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria by keeping the food frozen, they also preserve the food for future use. Frozen food has been a life-saver for many of us when we have been unable to prepare fresh food, and it also helps to stock up our ladder when we find food items at a discount.

Where are you going to place it?

These appliances require a lot of space. Therefore, before you go out to buy one, decide where you are going to place it, and buy one that will fit in that place comfortably. You can decide whether you want to purchase an upright one or a horizontal one. Upright ones are easier to use and take less space in the house, but they have less storage space within.

What are your needs?

Do you grow produce in your garden and would like to store the food for use later? Do you go hunting and would like to keep the meat for longer periods of time? Do you buy large cuts of meat when they are on sale and store them for use later? All these and other factors, such as the size of your family, will determine the size of the freezer you should purchase.

Cubic Foot Space

The general rule of thumb is that there should be 1.5 cubic feet of space for every member of your family. A cubic feet of space within it would hold approximately 30 pounds of food, taking into consideration the fact that packaging takes up a lot of area. If there are periods during the year when you do not store too much food, then maybe you can think of buying two smaller ones and switch off one when it is not needed.

Price and Energy Efficiency

As with any purchase, price is always an important factor. The price is generally based upon the size of the freezer, its energy efficiency, and the brand name. Look for one that has a good energy rating; it must be easy to keep clean and should have an ice-maker attachment.