Running out of space in your cramped fridge-freezer? We've all been there, that's why we've searched the internet for the absolute best chest freezers in the UK that are perfect in either your kitchen or garage. If you're also running out of space in your kitchen cupboards and shelves, we've also got loads of ideas for pantry storage for better organisation and peace of mind.
There are always some fantastic deals in the frozen food aisle that are hard to ignore and with a long shelf life and easy meals readily available (we’re all forgiven for not having the energy to cook meals from scratch), stocking up is a no-brainer. However, the joy of having great meals to hand quickly freezes over when space is limited in your fridge freezer.
You could try removing some of that unnecessary packaging or organising your frozen food like a game of Tetris, but the best solution? Buy a chest freezer and we’ll challenge you to run out of space again.
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Best chest freezers for your home
1 of 4Russell Hobbs RHUCFZ3B Black Under Counter Freestanding Freezer
If you're looking for a little extra freezer space in your home and want a discreet addition, this freezer is the one for you. Designed to fit under your counter, you can design it to fit your space with a reversible door and adjustable feet.
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Specifications
Size: H84.5 x W50.1 x D54cm
Capacity: 68 litres
Temperature: adjustable thermostat
Storage solutions: 3 x removable drawers
Energy rating: F
Auto-defrost? Manual defrost required
Amazon review: "Great little freezer. I have a chest freezer in a shed outside and use this one inside so I don't have to traipse out in the cold. Works well and is quiet. Hopefully it'll last as long as my other freezer which we've had for over a decade!"
2 of 4Indesit OS1A1002UK Chest Freezer
This narrow-built freezer is great for adding to the end of your counter, or fitting in the tightest of spaces and comes with great storage capacity. With a counterbalance lid and a removable basket, you can add your shopping with ease, and with a fast freeze function, it'll be chilled quickly in no time.
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Specifications
Size: H86 x W52.7 x D56.9cm
Capacity: 100 litres
Temperature: adjustable thermostat
Storage solutions: 1 x storage basket
Energy rating: F
Auto-defrost? Manual defrost required
Pros/cons:
Pros:
Plenty of storage space despite being fairly small
Affordable
Looks great in both the kitchen and garage
Cons:
Not very energy efficient
Argos review: "Really pleased with the item, real value for money, seems compact from the outside but holds much more than I previously imagined it would."
3 of 4Hotpoint CS1A250HFA1 Chest Freezer
Stock up on your family's favourites with this chest freezer guaranteeing all the space you'll need. With a counterbalance lid and lock available, you can know that you have safer access to food and the interior light helps see the contents, no matter the time of day.
Specifications
Size: H91.6 x W101 x D69.8cmCapacity: 255 litres
Temperature: adjustable thermostat and fast freeze function
Storage solutions: 2 x storage basket
Energy rating: F
Auto-defrost? Manual defrost required
Pros/cons:
Pros:
Amazing capacity
Low frost design
Cons:
Fairly large for the kitchen
AO review: "Everything as described. Easy to manoeuvre to position. Light inside works great perfect for seeing when freezer is not in a room with good lighting. Volume of storage great for a family."
4 of 4Haier HCE429F
This freezer is a game-changer when it comes to a whopping capacity to suit any large family and a great list of features. This freezer comes with a built in alarm when you have the freezer door open too long, which alerts you to the temperature rising. The digital temperature panel on the outside also means you can monitor the temperature in your freezer and maximise the freshness of your food.
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Specifications
Size: H84.5 x W141.0 x D74.5
Capacity: 413 litres
Temperature: adjustable temperature through LED display, plus fast freeze function
Storage solutions: 1 x storage basket
Energy rating: F
Auto-defrost? Manual defrost required
Pros/cons:
Pros:
Enormous storage capacity
Built-in thermometer is perfect for peace of mind
Alarm sounds if chest freezer is left open
Cons:
Not great for small kitchen
Amazon review: "It's a huge freezer and absolutely amazing storage space and the way you can lock it is brilliant for safety reasons."
£479
Best chest freezers for your garage
1 of 3Essentials C95CFW20 Chest Freezer
If you're just looking for a bit of extra freezer space, or only have the room in your garage for a small chest freezer, this one is for you. This small but mighty chest freezer does exactly what it says on the tin and even comes with an ice-scraper. While this freezer doesn't have the fast freeze technology that the others do, with Currys' price match guarantee you won't find it cheaper anywhere else.
Specifications
Size: H85.4 x W54.5 x D47.7cmCapacity: 95 litres
Storage solutions: Includes 1 x storage baskets
Temperature: Adjustable thermostat
Energy rating: F
Auto-defrost? Manual defrost required
Pros/cons:
Pros:
Affordable
Good space
Perfect for the garage
Cons:
No fancy features
Currys PC World review: "This is a great compact chest freezer at a reasonable price. I was looking for a small freezer suitable for an outside unheated garage and they seemed harder to come by. It also has a front bottom bung for defrosting. This little freezer ticked all the boxes."
2 of 3Russell Hobbs RHCF142B
This fridge freezer is garage friendly, but also looks good enough for inside your house if you do find you have a little extra room inside. The 142 litre space is perfect for medium sized families and there's also an adjustable thermostat and counterbalanced lid to protect your fingers. With it's 4/4 stars for its performance and A+ energy efficient rating, we think it's a great investment.
Specifications
Size: H85 x W73 x D52.3
Capacity: 142 litres
Storage solutions: Includes 1 x storage baskets
Temperature: Adjustable thermostat
Energy rating: F
Auto-defrost? Manual defrost required
AO review: "Lovely black finish with plenty of room, only came with one basket but I had kept baskets from my old freezer. Delivery was excellent on time and very friendly service.."
3 of 3Russell Hobbs RH142CF2002B 142L Freestanding Black Chest Freezer
This fridge freezer is garage friendly but also looks good enough for inside your house if you do find you have a little extra room inside. The 142-litre space is perfect for medium-sized families and there's also an adjustable thermostat and counterbalanced lid to protect your fingers. With 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon for its performance and A+ energy efficient rating, we think it's a great investment.
Specifications
Size: H85 x W63.2 x D55Capacity: 142 litres
Storage solutions: Includes 1 x storage baskets
Temperature: Adjustable thermostat
Energy rating: F (A+ on the old rating system)
Auto-defrost? Manual defrost required
Pros/cons:
Pros:
Great price for a quality brand
Winter Shield for year-round use in the garage
Great price
Cons:
Warranty could be better
Amazon review: "This has been an ideal replacement for my old Russell Hobbs Freezer it is a third bigger than my old unit, and good value, especially against the cost of similar freezers on the market. Delivery met the original details, and then the driver and his mate were able to bring the unit into the house, and took the packaging away - was also told about applying for free extended warranty."
FAQs
How to choose the best chest freezer for me
The main aspects to consider before buying yourself a brand new chest freezer are size, capacity, and energy use.
Size - You'll want a chest freezer that's big enough for all your frozen meals, but not too big to where it doesn't fit in your home. Measure your kitchen or garage space and figure out just how much space you're willing to sacrifice for your freezer.
Capacity - A chest freezer may be large, but it's capacity may be less than expected, make sure when you're searching for freezers that you find a chest freezer that has the largest capacity that you can comfortably fit in your home, you won't regret it.
Energy use - One of the most important aspects of freezer shopping, running a freezer can be costly, so save yourself some cash by looking for the most energy-efficient models you can find.
What's the lifespan of a chest freezer?
Chest freezers are built to last, and with a 15-20 year lifespan, rest assured your meals will stay frozen for the foreseeable future.
Can I put frozen food straight into a new freezer?
When your new chest freezer arrives, you've got to let it settle for some time, some experts suggest up to 24 hours in an upright position, but this depends on how it was transported. If it was upright during transit, it should take an hour or longer to settle properly, so you can get back to freezing food in no time at all.
Can I keep my chest freezer in my garage or outbuilding?
If your garage or outbuilding is insulated, then yes!
If not, you can keep your chest freezer there, but it would be wise to check your freezer climate class before doing so. While many people risk putting their chest freezer in their garage without checking this and claim to not experience any problems, it could result in your chest freezer performing below par later down the line.
What is the freezer climate class rating?
All fridges and freezers are designed to work optimally in specific temperature ranges, and this is known as their freezer climate class rating.
While putting your chest freezer in the garage may seem like the most obvious place for a bulky, white goods item, many chest freezers aren’t designed to work in the lower temperatures you’d find in a garage or outbuilding and you could experience problems.
This could include issues with the chest freezer insulation and issues with condensation.
Your appliance should reference their climate class either on their rating plate or in the instruction book or include the class number.
The most common climate classes in the UK are:
Normal (N) Class: 16°C - 32°C
Sub Normal (SN) Class: 10°C - 32°C
Sub Tropical (ST) Class: 18°C - 38°C
Tropical (T) Class: 18°C - 43°C
For more expert advice on the best fridge freezers visit our sister site A Modern Kitchen, a destination for homeowners and renters looking for a solution to their kitchen problems. Whether you're looking for advice on how to save money on appliances or the latest models to buy.
Eleanor Weaver is the Deputy Homes & Garden Product Editor for Yours, specialising in home décor, furnishings and appliances. Having worked commercially on Yours magazine and Yours.co.uk for the past six years, she's previously hosted Yours Live events and loves looking for home inspiration online.