I am thinking of buying a table-top freezer so that I can freeze down things and then transfer them to the big freezer. I'm hoping that the big one won't get so frosted up. Does anyone else do this and if so, does it work? Cheers.
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Hi Marg,
We did away with our freezer going on 10 years ago (other than the one that comes with the fridge) because the cost of the electricity was so high it was negating all of our savings from freezing things.
The final death knoll for the freezer was when we lost almost $400 in food after stocking it, and that week having a terrible storm which resulted in no power for 10 days. We cleaned out the freezer after that and the only time we ever use it is if turkeys go on sale for Thanksgiving on Nov 1 and we need to keep it until it is defrosted for the cooking. We don't get many storms in November so the power loss isn't an issue and we factor the cost of electricity into the cost of the turkey to make sure it is a true bargain.
Sad, because that is what thrifty people were taught to do--buy cheap and preserve. Now we do this with pantry staples but not anything that requires freezing/refrigerating.
We did this after careful calculations of what we could lose, vs what we could save, plus the cost of running the appliance--in our case the freezer.
Maybe calculate out the time to defrost and turn it into an hourly wage and the cost to run the freezer and see which is better for you.
Best wishes from Pittsburgh!
Hi Pughgirl40
Thanks for the ideas. I don't think I could get rid of my freezer, I'm an avid gardener and have to have somewhere to put the excess fruit and beans etc, that I have in summer. I try not to think of power cuts!
Hi Marge from England - I've been reading your postings & comments for such a long time it seems like we are all friends and share some of the same problems & solutions.
I'm not sure if your energy costs are about the same in England as the US but I'm with Pghgirl as I think about the overall running and maintenance cost before I buy any new appliances.
Do you cook for a large family or prepare a lot of meals that use mostly frozen types of food? You do not say the type or size of your large freezer or how old (older=less efficient) so it's kinda difficult to give a good reply but since you talk about it "freezing up' I'm assuming it is a chest type freezer.
I keep a small 'student' size refrigerator in one of my sheds because I'm outside as much as possible and I keep water and snacks so they're available without having to go inside. I also use it to store/keep leftovers that overflow my indoor refrigerator.
Cost effective? not sure but very convenient.
I'm just mentioning this to say that families are not all alike in what serves their needs or finances.
Most sites say it costs about $14 a month to run a large efficient chest type freezer but that seems like a very low figure to me.
Are you thinking that freezing food in a small freezer will be better than freezing it in the main freezer? Placing food from one to the other will mean you are opening and closing a small unit several times and still have to open large freezer to place food inside and also to remove it again.
I do not know how you seal your packages before placing in the freezer but there are a lot of types of gadgets available to help remove all of the air so your food will freeze quickly and store for long periods without freezer burn.
Most economists say this step is the most important one to remember when using a freezer effectively.
If you're concerned about your freezer frosting up due to frequent openings perhaps looking at different problems would make it more usable. Not everyone will have the same type of problems.
1) try to keep an open area around the outsides of the freezer walls so there is good circulation and sides will not get hot.
2) check freezer door seals frequently to make sure it closes securely.
3) If there is frost build-up it's best to use food and defrost completely before turning back on. It will take several hours (overnight?) to defrost complete and most people do not allow it to defrost the areas they cannot see. This process will take a lot of newspapers or old cloths according to where your freezer is located. (Same with a refrigerator freezer.)
I would think a small freezer might be convenient if you're using it for short term items like bread or fresh vegetables that you intend to use within a few days.
Be sure to check out the true inside measurements of these freezers before purchasing one as they are very small.
Off subject but interesting:
Hi cybergrannie ( love the name)
Yes, we've been posting and reading for years!I have an upright freezer: I don't have room for the chest type,wish I did. This time of year I seem to be freezing almost every day and, yes, I suppose keep on opening it the frost does build up. I did think that a smaller could be defrosted after I'd frozen something and moved it out. I can't make my mind up. I've only a small kitchen so i'd have to think where to put it too. The big one is out in the passage.
I will definitly look into the gadgets anyway and thanks for the link,
Marg.
The problem may be the type of freezer you have. You have to decide what it is used for? How much it will help? And is it cost worthy for you and your family? Check out this link- www.moneycrashers.com/
Hi Ana, Thanks for the link, helpful.
Marg.
Hi,
I would consider freezing things, in a small freezer first, to be great, and then put them in the big freezer. There is always the chance that frozen food will be damaged if a lack of electricity is ever an issue. But I like to think positive. I love to store food in a freezer. I think you should go for it.
---Robyn
Robyn
I like to have a good store of food too
Cheers Marg.
My family in England uses a separate freezer like that but it is also because the shops are far from where they live so it makes sense to freeze things. I think you should weigh that out, as well. If you live near shops it might not make a difference.
Hello again, Attosa,
I don't live far from the shops now but I did for years and I guess it became a habit to keep a good supply of stuff in. And I do have surplus veg: I really fancy the idea but not sure I can justify the expense! Cheers
Marg.
Thanks for all the replies. Good old Thriftyfun!
Marg from England.
That's an interesting idea. I never heard of a table-top freezer and don't even know if we have them in America. Now that you mention it, I'm going to be searching for one for myself. Thanks for the idea.
You're welcome.
Marg.
These freezers are called by different names in the US:
College Dorm, student, mini, compact, office
These are sold in almost all large stores;
Walmart, Lowe's, Home Depot, Target.....
They also sell the same size refrigerator which is more popular than the freezer.
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